By Cedric Mwesigwa.
When the jailed Rtd. Col. Dr. Kiiza Besigye made a financial contribution to the National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Bobi Wine two days to the January 15, 2026 elections as a boost to his campaign operations, his gesture was praised by some political observers as a play of mature politics.
This package was handed over to Bobi Wine by Dr. Besigye’s wife Eng. Winnie Byanyima on Sunday 11 January during the prayers organized for Dr. Besigye and other political prisoners to be released from jail, at his home in Kasangati- Wakiso district.
They were attended by some key Patriotic Front for Freedom (PFF) party figures including among others; Wafula Ogutu and Erias Lukwago. Byanyima who did not reveal the actual amount, explained that his husband had asked her to reach out his friends to find something for the NUP presidential candidate to finish the last campaign lap.
However, ever since the said money was donated to Bobi Wine, the PFF party went into stokes of blazing fire and bickering among some devotee members, according to the reliable sources.
Making a reference to mixed reactions on some official party WhatsApp groups, sources quoted some party members accusing their jailed supreme leader of acting with hypocrisy, wondering why he could not financially support his own party to field many candidates across the country.
Official records show that 81 MP candidates were fielded by the PFF. Despite revelation of the donation figure, some sources said it was 20,000 US Dollars.
Sources told Blazer News Times that the PFF chairperson also an outgoing Kampala lord mayor Lukwago had arrived on a decision of not attending the planned prayer meeting with Bobi Wine team citing their loose cooperation as reflected in failure to withdrawal NUP candidates against him self and other change seeking forces, but pleaded by Wafula Ogutu to change his mind.
Incumbent Lukwago was tussling it out with Ronald Balimwezo (NUP) who was declared the incoming Kampala lord mayor by the Byabakama led Electoral Commission after walloping him out, while the PFF’s secretary general Ibrahim Nganda Ssemujju 15-year parliamentary representation for Kira Municipality was ended by NUP’s George Musisi.
When Blazer News Times contacted the PFF deputy secretary general Harold Kaija for response, he declined, saying he was very engaged at the moment.
Another senior party leader Wafula Ogutu also declined to reply to our message that sought the party’s response regarding the matter.
