KAMPALA, Uganda: A group of nine newly elected Members of Parliament who ran as independents have opened discussions with the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) on a possible working partnership in the upcoming parliamentary term.
The legislators — Esther Achom (Serere), Peter Ojiji (Pingire), Mercy Kanyesigye (National Female Youth), Rose Mutonyi (Manafwa), Ronald Mutego (Butaleja), Emmanuel Illukol (Bukora County), Anthony Tumusiime (Isingiro), Spellanza Baguma (Kyenjojo), and Richard Ssenteza (Buikwe), were escorted to the NRM headquarters today by the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Anita Among, who also serves as the party’s Second National Vice Chairperson (Female).
At the party secretariat, the MPs were received by senior NRM officials led by Deputy Secretary General Rose Namayanja Nsereko, marking the beginning of what leaders described as a framework for cooperation rather than formal party defection.
Speaker Among commended the lawmakers for taking steps toward collaboration with the ruling party, noting that several of them had previously contested in NRM primaries before opting to stand as independents.
“Some of you participated in the primaries and later chose the independent route, where you successfully earned the trust of your voters,” Among said. “We appreciate your willingness to work alongside the NRM for the good of the country.”
She also credited the legislators for contributing to President Yoweri Museveni’s 2026 electoral success, emphasizing that the party remains open to constructive partnerships.
Namayanja, addressing the gathering, framed the engagement as part of the NRM’s broader strategy of inclusiveness. She revealed that out of 67 independent MPs currently in Parliament, 54 previously contested under the NRM primary process a sign, she said, of continued ideological alignment.
“Our approach as a party is to work with all leaders who are ready to serve national interests,” Namayanja said. “Those who have expressed interest in formalizing cooperation through Memoranda of Understanding are making a positive and strategic decision.”
She explained that once candidates choose to run as independents after losing party primaries, they forfeit the right to use the NRM flag and do not receive official campaign backing or financial facilitation. Party members holding official positions who ran independently were also required to relinquish those roles.
Despite that, Namayanja stressed that the NRM is prepared to collaborate with willing legislators to advance its legislative agenda.
NRM’s Director of Legal Services, Counsel Enoch Barata, clarified that the discussions do not amount to party switching. Instead, he described the arrangement as a formal cooperation agreement focused on legislative alignment.
“This is not about crossing to the NRM,” Barata said. “It is about signing agreements to cooperate, particularly in supporting resolutions of the NRM Parliamentary Caucus.”
He noted that once the MPs are officially gazetted and sworn in, they will be eligible to formalize the cooperation agreements.
Barata added that early engagement demonstrates political pragmatism on the part of the independents.
“Recognizing the importance of working with the majority party in Parliament is a practical step toward ensuring that the interests of their constituents are effectively represented,” he said. “NRM is a broad-based party and remains open to ideas that promote national development.”
