Ugandan youth advocate and entrepreneur Nyanzi Martin Luther has questioned the integrity of Members of Parliament under the National Unity Platform (NUP), accusing them of hypocrisy for demanding change while holding onto power themselves.
In a recent interview, Nyanzi challenged the opposition’s double standards, asking why they criticize President Yoweri Museveni for his lengthy rule when many of them have also refused to give up their own seats in Parliament. “Stop crying for the new Uganda yet our own National Unity Platform MPs don’t want to leave Parliament,” he said.
He went further, suggesting that if both government and opposition leaders are unwilling to relinquish power, there is little justification for demanding Museveni’s departure. “If they also want to remain in Parliament endlessly, then let Museveni rule,” Nyanzi stated, sparking debate online.
The remarks come at a time when Ugandan youths are increasingly expressing dissatisfaction with both ruling and opposition parties, accusing them of failing to offer new leadership or direction. Many have called for generational change across the political spectrum.
Critics of NUP argue that some of its leading MPs have been in Parliament for over a decade—first under other parties and now under NUP—yet continue to project themselves as symbols of change.
Nyanzi, who heads the Apex Digital Skills initiative aimed at youth empowerment, said Uganda needs leaders who are not afraid to step aside and allow new voices to emerge. He argued that political renewal must start with internal reflection within the opposition.
The comments have drawn mixed reactions, with some supporting Nyanzi’s position while others accuse him of undermining the broader struggle for democratic reforms in Uganda.
NUP has not officially responded to Nyanzi’s statements, though its leaders have previously defended their MPs’ experience as necessary in challenging the entrenched ruling system.
As the country prepares for the 2026 elections, voices like Nyanzi’s highlight a growing demand for not just a change in leadership, but a shift in the political culture across Uganda’s entire system.
