The National Unity Platform (NUP) has announced Asio Florence as its official flag bearer for the Bukedea Woman Member of Parliament seat.
This now sets a heated political contest against Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among in the 2026 general elections.
Asio’s unveiling took place on Monday in Kibale during a press conference presided over by the party president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine.
The announcement follows weeks of controversy surrounding the deletion of former NUP aspirant Mercy Marion Alupo from the national voters’ register by the Electoral Commission, an incident that drew sharp criticism from human rights groups and opposition parties, who accused the EC of acting under political pressure.
In her maiden speech shortly after being presented with the party flag, Asio Florence thanked God and the people of Bukedea for their resilience amid political intimidation and systematic frustration of NUP activities in the district.
“People of Bukedea, I am here to represent you,” she said. “I want to thank God Almighty who has given us this opportunity amidst all these challenges that NUP has faced in Bukedea. Despite the frustration given to our sister Mercy Marion Alupo, I am here to stand. I am not worried, and I am very strong. We shall stand together until the fight is over.”
Asio described her nomination as a continuation of a larger struggle for justice, democracy, and freedom of political participation in Bukedea, a district that has long been dominated by the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and its stronghold leader, Speaker Anita Among.
She vowed to reach out to every village in Bukedea, urging residents to stand up for change.
“This fight is not mine alone. It is for every woman, every youth, and every farmer who believes that Bukedea deserves leaders chosen by the people, not imposed by fear,” she said.
During the ceremony, Mercy Marion Alupo, who had initially expressed interest in contesting for the same seat, officially handed over the party flag to Asio.
Her name had been controversially deleted from the voters’ register, a move that the party described as a deliberate attempt to block her from nomination.
While passing on the flag, Alupo delivered an emotional message of solidarity and defiance.
“This has not been an easy journey,” she said. “The junta is very afraid of the power of the people. But I am proud to hand this flag to my sister Asio Florence, who will continue the struggle we started together.”
Alupo pledged to work tirelessly in mobilizing support for Asio and the NUP cause in Bukedea, saying she would remain part of the liberation effort even without being on the ballot.
“I will not sit back. I will be in the field, rallying our people, reminding them that no one can delete the spirit of freedom,” she added, drawing loud applause from NUP members in attendance.
NUP President Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, in his address, commended Alupo for her courage and praised Asio for accepting to take on what he termed a “historic responsibility” in Bukedea.
“Sister Mercy Marion Alupo has demonstrated what true leadership means, sacrificing self for the good of the struggle,” Bobi Wine said.
“And I want to salute Asio Florence for accepting this flag, knowing very well the kind of intimidation and injustice we face in Eastern Uganda.”
Kyagulanyi said that NUP’s decision to front Asio is part of a broader strategy to ensure that every Ugandan constituency has a representative voice of change in 2026.
“We are sending a strong message to the regime: you can block one, but you cannot block all of us. The people of Bukedea have spoken, and they deserve a fair chance to choose their leader,” he stated.
The NUP leader also used the occasion to criticize what he called the “capture” of the Electoral Commission by the ruling NRM, warning that the continued exclusion of opposition candidates would provoke greater political unrest and disillusionment.
“When institutions are used to silence the will of the people, then we no longer have democracy but dictatorship. But we shall continue to resist peacefully and lawfully until justice prevails,” Bobi Wine said.
The Bukedea Woman MP seat has attracted intense national attention as it pits Speaker Anita Among, one of the most powerful political figures in Uganda, against a growing wave of opposition voices determined to challenge her long-standing dominance.
Among, who also serves as the NRM Vice Chairperson for Eastern Uganda, has held the seat since 2016.
As the press conference concluded, NUP members raised their hands in solidarity, chanting the party slogan “People Power, Our Power.”
For Asio Florence, the journey ahead will be challenging, but she appears undeterred.
“This is not about fear or power,” she said. “It’s about service, truth, and the right of Bukedea people to decide their future.”
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