The Electoral Commission (EC) has cautioned Hon Robert Kyagulanyi leader of National Unity Platform (NUP) against using the red colour since Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) already took it.
On Monday morning, the EC chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama stated that Bobi Wine’s application to change to red colour was rejected because UPC was using it.
He says, "Under the former party, it was white/blue, but they wanted to change so that red dominates. We wrote back to them and indicated that the colour is already being used or has been booked by UPC and that the request could not be entertained,”
Byabakamba added that even after writing to the party about their application on using the colour red, the party went ahead to use it, which is not among its gazetted symbols and colours.
During an interview with a Ugandan media house, He says, "We don't want UPC to ask why we allowed another party to use their colour. That is why we indicated it to them, but they did not get back to us and went ahead and launched the party colour as red,"
However, NUP Spokes Person Joel Ssenyonyi insisted that there was no domination of colours and that NUP only uses red, white and navy blue but decided to use red as the major colour.
"There is no monopoly over colours that is why most parties have numerous colours. FDC has white, a bit of red and blue, but they chose to use blue. NRM has yellow, white, red and blue, but they chose to use yellow. So, red is one of our colours," Ssenyonyi argued.
Ssenyonyi added, "We wrote to EC they are still tossing us, they don't want to hear us out."
Last month the prominent opposition MP in Uganda Bobi wine launched the new political party NUP before the presidential polls that are scheduled for early next year.
The People Power leader took over the leadership of the National Unity Platform (NUP), which is duly a recognized political organization with the Electoral Commission and their symbol is an umbrella.
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