Democracy and freedom are said to be twins that have ways of settling scores with bravado. First it was NRM MPs Musa Francis Ecweru (Amuria), Theodore Ssekikubo (Lwemiyaga), Barnabas Tinkasimire (Buyaga West), Persis Namuganza, Emmanuel Otaala, and beeline of two hundred other sitting MPs who cried foul when they lost parliamentary party tickets after voters handed them a dust bin. And there was so much derision from NRM opponents claiming it could not deliver a satisfactory primary election to select flagbearers.

The two hundred then convened a hasty joint media conference declaring their intentions to run as ‘independent’ candidates, but NRM ‘leaning’, to salvage their parliamentary status and perks in the 12th parliament. As time wore out, so has the rantings, and NRM unlike before, taking a stronger stance warning that whoever from its ranks who runs as an independent candidate could get dismissed from the party. That party threat, repeatedly issued mainly by Vice Chairperson Alhaji Moses Kigongo, and Secretary General Richard Todwong remains to be seen if it will hold.

Now, NUP having ‘vetted’ its parliamentary candidates, and issued a public notice, has left many in tears, who having subjected themselves to the process, and unsuccessful, claim it was opaque, riddled with fraud and corruption where the tickets were alleged handed on either patronage or to the highest financial bidders.

The most prominent among the losers, has been Medard Lubega Ssegona Kalyamaggwa (Busiro East) with continuous twenty years as MP and who publicly bills himself as the best in parliament and town, although many see him more as a social snob. Since being dumped by Robert Kyagulanyi, the party president, who he now described as not earlier being fit to eat at the same table, Segona has been all-over media crying foul with teary eyes wondering how, perhaps a low-grade local music singer, Mathias Walukagga could beat him in the party assessment interview.

But as a timid soul with shaky legs, Segona is now only speaking in parables and idioms to avoid a direct confrontation with Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wibe from his earlier Music circles. And unmistakenly, the NUP “foot-soldiers” have turned their guns on Segona, making him their crude joke on most social media platforms. Alongside Segona, are Allan Ssewanyana (Makindye West), former journalist Joyce Bagala and Mityana Woman MP, Alysious Mukasa Alysious (Lubaga North) and Nyeko Derrick (Makindye West), all rendered immobile and unable to mount any viable challenge.

And like former Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LoP) Mathias Mpuuga of Nyendo-Mukungwe, of the newly formed Democratic Front, but more of a political stillbirth, they may now have to eat humble pies. Those so far discarded in the NUP’s short stint by Kyagulanyi like Segona, Mpuuga, Micheal Mabiike, Abed Bwanika, Bagaala, and as well Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda formerly of FDC, now the paragon of hyped Peoples Front for Freedom (PFF) seem to enjoy an over-blown sense of self political importance.

Speaking to Norbert Mao-DP President General, and Nathan Nandala Mafabi, the FDC presidential candidate, one gets the sense of their relief at the turmoil their former members are currently going through in the quest to remain afloat. And it is quite hard to see how they dig themselves out of the ditch they have each found themselves in. From the NRM corner, we can see how open democracy is exposing the foul air of the political charlatans both within and from the outside. The best way should be not to narrow the political space but provide them with longer ropes with which to tighten their own noose.