NAKASERO, Kampala: At least eight opposition parliamentary flag bearers from the National Unity Platform (NUP) and the Democratic Front have withdrawn from the 2026 general election race and defected to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party to support President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
The defections were announced by the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, during a media interaction session between President Museveni and journalists from Greater Masaka, held last night at Nakasero State Lodge in Kampala.
Among those who defected are Mr. Binomugisha Godfrey, the NUP parliamentary candidate for Bushenyi–Ishaka; Ms. Kabugho Macklin, an NUP candidate for Busongola South in Kasese District; Mr. Twine John, NUP candidate for Ntoroko County; and Ms. Ariho Phiona, a Democratic Front parliamentary candidate for Ndolwa East.
Others include Mr. Amin Kanu, NUP candidate for Lower Madi County in Madi-Okollo District; Ms. Aciru Gloria, NUP woman parliamentary candidate for Madi-Okollo District; Kamalad Gard, who had been the NUP candidate for Ruhama; and Kojo Sam from Bunyangabu, also a former NUP parliamentary aspirant.
Deputy Speaker Tayebwa said more opposition members are expected to cross to the NRM, noting growing support for President Museveni ahead of the 2026 elections.
Following the announcement, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the NRM presidential flag bearer, congratulated the defectors for what he described as “seeing the light” and joining the ruling party.
President Museveni accused the National Unity Platform of promoting foreign interests aimed at undermining Uganda’s independence, adding that some opposition leaders are driven by envy of the country’s development progress.
“I want to congratulate these Ugandans. Some opposition leaders and their foreign backers do not understand Uganda or Africa. A number of those who withdrew told me they later discovered that their leaders had criminal intentions, including plans to cause riots and violence. They decided they could not associate themselves with betrayal,” President Museveni said.
The President further noted that Uganda’s economy is growing steadily, with export earnings now surpassing the import bill by about two billion dollars. He added that strong economic performance and improved security have unsettled some opposition actors and their supporters.
“They think they can use the opposition to destabilize the country, but that will not work here. They should try it elsewhere, not in Uganda,” Museveni emphasized.
During the same media interaction, President Museveni revealed plans to reduce Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax from 30 percent to at least 10 percent and also to lower trade license fees for petty traders in towns across Greater Masaka.
He pledged to issue an executive order to implement these proposed measures.
