NUP SG Rubongoya clears air on his State House Harvard scholarship, ties with Museveni, NRM

National Unity Platform (NUP) secretary general Lewis David Rubongoya has spoken out on claims that he was a beneficiary of a State House scholarship and still has links to President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni and his ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) government.

Rubongoya worked with President Museveni, something his critics have severally used to claim he could be a mole in the People Power pressure group and NUP, led by Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine.

When he appeared as a guest on NBS Frontline on December 24, Rubongoya was on the spot after he claimed that all those who had crossed from NUP to NRM had been paid millions of money.

He claimed NUP had screenshots and voice calls to prove that Museveni’s party had bought off its registrars and candidates.

In response, government spokesperson Ofwono Opondo told the youthful NUP secretary general: “If I were Rubongoya, I wouldn’t be talking about being bought. Rubongoya was educated by State House. How much did NUP buy him to leave NRM?”

Given an opportunity to respond to Opondo’s claims, Rubongoya made it clear he once worked with Museveni and NRM but had left to oppose him.

“I’ll respond by giving you a scripture verse in Hebrews 11 and it says that by faith when Moses became of age he decided to abandon the court of Pharaoh and he decided to go to suffer with the people of God,” noted Rubongoya.

“I have never objected to the fact that I was very close to the NRM and I have previously been a member and supporter of the NRM and a beneficiary of their system. At some point I said ‘No.’ I refused.”

He also revealed he was yet to complete servicing the loan for his Harvard Law School education.

It is not true that I went to Harvard on State scholarship. I went there on merit, and I got a scholarship from Harvard Law School. I am still paying part of the loan.”