MSP-EXP430 Problem with UART

Hello all, I am trying to configure UART configuration on my MSP430FR5969 launchpad (MSP-EXP430FR5969). I am using one of the TI examples, specifically the one called msp430fr59xx_euscia0_uart_01.c, this program is supposed to echo characters written to a terminal back at the user. However, when I run this program I am unable to type anything in the serial COM port. Some things worth noting that I have changed is changing the configuration of GPIO pins (b/c the example used P2.0 and P2.1 for RXD / TXD but these are P2.5 / P2.6 on the launchpad). Other than that, I am not sure where I am slipping up, would anyone have strategies for debugging this problem? The complete code I am using is shown below. Any help is appreciated!

// Configure GPIO
    P2SEL1 = 01100000;                    // USCI_A0 UART operation
    P2SEL0 = 00000000;

    // Disable the GPIO power-on default high-impedance mode to activate
    // previously configured port settings
    PM5CTL0 &= ~LOCKLPM5;

    // Startup clock system with max DCO setting ~8MHz
    CSCTL0_H = CSKEY >> 8;                    // Unlock clock register
    CSCTL1 = DCOFSEL_3 | DCORSEL;             // Set DCO to 8MHz
    CSCTL2 = SELA__VLOCLK | SELS__DCOCLK | SELM__DCOCLK;
    CSCTL3 = DIVA__1 | DIVS__1 | DIVM__1;     // Set all dividers
    CSCTL0_H = 0;                             // Lock CS registers

    // Configure USCI_A0 for UART mode
    UCA0CTLW0 = UCSWRST;                      // Put eUSCI in reset
    UCA0CTLW0 |= UCSSEL__SMCLK;               // CLK = SMCLK
    // Baud Rate calculation
    // 8000000/(16*9600) = 52.083
    // Fractional portion = 0.083
    // User's Guide Table 21-4: UCBRSx = 0x04
    // UCBRFx = int ( (52.083-52)*16) = 1
    UCA0BR0 = 52;                             // 8000000/16/9600
    UCA0BR1 = 0x00;
    UCA0MCTLW |= UCOS16 | UCBRF_1;
    UCA0CTLW0 &= ~UCSWRST;                    // Initialize eUSCI
    UCA0IE |= UCRXIE;                         // Enable USCI_A0 RX interrupt

    __bis_SR_register(LPM3_bits | GIE);       // Enter LPM3, interrupts enabled
    __no_operation();                         // For debugger
}

#if defined(__TI_COMPILER_VERSION__) || defined(__IAR_SYSTEMS_ICC__)
#pragma vector=USCI_A0_VECTOR
__interrupt void USCI_A0_ISR(void)
#elif defined(__GNUC__)
void __attribute__ ((interrupt(USCI_A0_VECTOR))) USCI_A0_ISR (void)
#else
#error Compiler not supported!
#endif
{
  switch(__even_in_range(UCA0IV, USCI_UART_UCTXCPTIFG))
  {
    case USCI_NONE: break;
    case USCI_UART_UCRXIFG:
      while(!(UCA0IFG&UCTXIFG));
      UCA0TXBUF = UCA0RXBUF;
      __no_operation();
      break;
    case USCI_UART_UCTXIFG: break;
    case USCI_UART_UCSTTIFG: break;
    case USCI_UART_UCTXCPTIFG: break;
  }
}