Moses Kibalama Nkonge has handed over the leadership of his National Unity Platform – NUP (formerly National Unity, Reconciliation and Development Party (NURD) to Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine of People Power.
At the official unveiling of NUP in Kamwokya, Kampala, Bobi Wine said National Unity Platform was the political wing of the the People Power pressure group.
Kibalama applied to register NURD December 2004. He told People Power leaders that he had steered the party for 16 years and felt it was now time to hand it over to young people.
“We signed all the legal documents with the Electoral Commission and Mr Kyagulanyi is the new President of the National Unity Platform,” announced Kibalama.
For over a year, Bobi Wine and Kibalama had been working out modalities to ensure People Power pressure group’s smooth takeover of NURD.
“In July 2019, we changed the name of the party from NURDP to NUP,” revealed Bobi Wine.
NURD’s colors were navy blue, white, and red. Its slogan was ‘we need unity, reconciliation, and development” while its simple was an umbrella.
The three colors of the national flag — black, yellow and red — were added ahead of the relaunch. NUP maintained NURD’s umbrella symbol but changed the slogan to ‘People Power, Our Power.’
MOSES KIBALAMA NKONGE & NURD
Unlike People Power and Bobi Wine, NURD (NUP) and Kibalama were obscure until July 22, 2020 when they caught media attention at the unveiling of the party.
But besides his objectives of working towards reconciliation, unity and development, Kibalama once attempted to contest for president.
In October 2010, Kibalama picked nomination forms to challenge President Yoweri Museveni in an election for the country’s top seat but chicken out the race.
Kibalama complained that comedians’ expression of interest in the presidency had made it look cheap.
So, Kibalama opted to compete for for an LCV Councillor for Gombe sub county in Wakiso District, arguing that politics was not only about the presidency.
Before he founded NURD, Kibalama had served as a police officer for 15 years.
MOSES KIBALAMA NKONGE QUICK PROFILE
- Age: 58
- Born at Buwambo Village, Wakiso District
Education
- Uganda Martyrs High Senior Secondary School Lubaga (O and A-level)
- Makerere University: Business Administration from
- Derbyshire Constabulary, Midlands, UK: Diploma in VIP protection and escort duties, arms detection and disarmament techniques
Work
- President Milton Obote’s escort, driver and body guard
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