A screenshot of a WhatsApp status reportedly posted by newly elected Nakifuma County MP Kiwanuka Sulaiman has sparked debate within National Unity Platform (NUP) circles after he appeared to express disappointment over his omission from the party’s newly unveiled shadow cabinet.
The status, which has since circulated on social media, read: “Congratulations Mr. Shadow Sports Minister. Oba wa ludo? Oba wa badminton? Regardless, we move.”
Many political observers interpreted the message as a sarcastic reaction to the appointment of Nansana Municipality MP Zambali Bulasio Mukasa as the Shadow Minister for Sports.
Kiwanuka Sulaiman, a well-known sports enthusiast and proprietor of Spartan FC, was among those expected by some of his supporters to secure a position in the opposition’s shadow cabinet, particularly in the sports docket given his long-standing involvement in sports development.
However, when the list was released, Zambali was handed the sports portfolio, leaving Nakifuma County without representation in the shadow cabinet.
Sources within NUP suggest that Kiwanuka’s relationship with sections of the party leadership has not been as strong as that of some other legislators from the Greater Mukono region. Political analysts argue that internal party dynamics, visibility within party structures, and strategic considerations may have influenced the final appointments.
The leaked status has generated mixed reactions online. While some supporters viewed it as harmless humor and a light-hearted response to the appointments, others interpreted it as an indication of dissatisfaction with the party’s decision.
The National Unity Platform recently announced its shadow cabinet as part of preparations for holding the government accountable on policy implementation and service delivery in the 12th Parliament.
Whether the status was intended as a joke or a subtle expression of disappointment remains open to interpretation, but it has undoubtedly become a talking point among political observers and party supporters.
Kiwanuka recently won the Nakifuma County parliamentary seat, succeeding former legislator Fred Ssimbwa Kaggwa. Since entering Parliament, he has focused much of his public messaging on youth empowerment, sports development, and community transformation.
It should be remembered that the NUP ticket for Nakifuma County was reportedly decided at the last minute following a thanksgiving event organized by former MP Fred Ssimbwa Kaggwa. During the function, the party’s Deputy President for Buganda, Muwanga Kivumbi, attended as a guest and witnessed the overwhelming reception accorded to Kiwanuka Sulaiman by the crowd.
Political observers in the area have often pointed to that event as a turning point in the race for the NUP flag. The reaction from the audience reportedly painted a different picture from what some party leaders had anticipated, ultimately influencing the party’s decision to hand the NUP ticket to Kiwanuka Sulaiman.
It should also be remembered that Kiwanuka first contested for the Nakifuma County parliamentary seat as an independent candidate in the 2021 general elections but lost to Fred Ssimbwa Kaggwa. Following that defeat, he remained active on the ground, focusing on community mobilization, youth empowerment initiatives, and strengthening his support base across the constituency.
His persistence and continued engagement with voters are widely credited with laying the foundation for his eventual victory in the 2026 elections, where he successfully unseated Ssimbwa and became the Member of Parliament for Nakifuma County.
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