Debunking the False "Mufumbiro-Madada" Romance Scandal

NUP Spokesperson Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro and Mobiliser Sauda Madada in the dock during their hearing.

An article by the Explorer News Uganda has fabricated a romantic scandal involving NUP leaders Alex Waisswa Mufumbiro and Sauda Madada, with no supporting evidence . While the arrests of these two opposition politicians are real, the claim that they are in a romantic relationship is false.

The article, published on September 13, 2025, titled "NUP Leaders’ Hidden Romance Exposed: Mufumbiro and Madada Linked in Kissing Photos" is attributed to "Sherry Ingabire," and alleges a secret affair between National Unity Platform (NUP) Deputy Spokesperson Alex Waisswa Mufumbiro and party mobilizer Sauda Madada, complete with leaked kissing photos, despite both being married to others. It links this to their recent arrests for "unlawful drilling" and claims it undermines NUP's moral credibility ahead of the 2026 elections.

What we found.

We investigated this claim using various verification methods: cross-referencing with credible news sources, the Daily Monitor, ChimpReports and The Observer. We also searched social media platform X (formerly Twitter), and analyzed court records and NUP statements. Here's what we found.

The romance narrative is entirely false, blending partial truths with invention to smear NUP.

A screenshot of a post on X by the Explorer News where the false information is published.

The Claim

The article asserts:

• Leaked photos show Mufumbiro and Madada kissing, exposing a "hidden romance" while both are married.

• They've been in a months-long affair, seen displaying public affection.

• This scandal has sparked outrage among NUP supporters on social media, questioning the party's ethics.

• An anonymous insider called it a "disgrace," warning it harms NUP's election prospects.

• Mufumbiro is distracted by the affair instead of voter mobilization.

The Evidence

Our investigation reveals no basis for the romantic allegations, but confirms the arrests.

1. There is no evidence of the affairs. Extensive searches on X, Google, and Ugandan media archives found zero images of Mufumbiro and Madada kissing as the article alleges or photos of them showing affection. The only mentions of "kissing photos" trace back to the Explorer News article itself and two X posts sharing that very article creating a self-reinforcing loop of unverified content. Credible outlets like Daily Monitor (September 10, 2025) and ChimpReports report only on the arrests, with no hint of personal scandals. NUP officials, including Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya, have issued statements focusing solely on the arrest and charges.

   
   

2. Marital Status Overstated (Misleading). Mufumbiro is indeed married. His bail application on September 10 mentioned his wife who was receiving treatment at Mulago Hospital. However, no sources confirm Madada's marital status. This claim relies on speculation to heighten the "betrayal" angle.

   
   

3. The quoted "party insider" decrying a "disgrace" and betrayal does not appear in any verified reports. Searches for similar phrases yielded nothing. Instead, NUP insiders like Leader of Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi have condemned the arrests as "violent abductions" amid over 20 opposition detentions since early September. Internal NUP tensions exist, for example, over the party's flag bearer nominations, but they are political, not personal.

   
   

4. There is No Social Media Backlash: X semantic and keyword searches ("Mufumbiro Madada affair" from September 1-15, 2025) show no condemnation of a romance. NUP Supporters are tweeting under hashtags like #FreeNUPLeaders and #ProtestVoteUg2026, criticising government repression. Satirical posts about Madada's post-arrest appearance exist, but nothing about moral decay.

   
   

5. Arrests Are Real, But Unrelated to Scandal: Mufumbiro and Madada were arrested September 8-9, 2025, charged with unlawful drilling (from a February NUP parade) and conspiracy under Uganda's Penal Code. Bail was denied until September 29. The article twists this into a morality tale, ignoring the political context.

Why This Matters

This fabricated story exemplifies disinformation tactics in Uganda's polarized media landscape. Explorer News Uganda, known for sensationalism, likely aims to exploit cultural taboos around infidelity and leadership ethics, diverting attention from real issues like arbitrary arrests and election spending.

Sources: This fact-check draws from web searches, X analyses, and Ugandan media reports dated September 2025. Our full fact-checking methodology is available upon request.