Fort Portal – The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has welcomed a group of former National Unity Platform (NUP) candidates and mobilisers who defected ahead of the January 2026 general elections, with Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa asserting that their move was voluntary.
“This morning in Fort Portal City, I had the pleasure of receiving Mbago Ashimeal, NUP flagbearer for Mwenge Central MP; Musabe George W., NUP flagbearer for Mwenge South MP; and Kabasinguzi Jennifer, NUP flagbearer for Bundibugyo Woman MP. I sincerely thank them and warmly welcome them to NRM,” Tayebwa tweeted on December 24.
He dismissed claims that the ruling party bribed opposition candidates, saying, “They have joined freely and without any conditions, contrary to the false claims by some people that we induced them to do so.”
Tayebwa added that the defectors had been “misled away from NRM and have now returned home to work with the old man [President Museveni], whose dedication to protecting past achievements and steering the country forward remains unwavering.”
The move comes amid reports that over 250 former NUP coordinators and candidates from districts including Kyenjojo, Bunyangabu, and Bundibugyo have joined the NRM in recent weeks.
However, some of the defectors cited financial and personal reasons for their switch. Former NUP aspirant George William Musabe said, “My party [NUP] failed to financially support my campaigns. After meeting Mr Tayebwa, I was promised a job and solutions to some of my personal challenges.”’
NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya, meanwhile, accused the NRM of using coercion and inducements to weaken opposition in the region. “These defections are part of a deliberate strategy to undermine opposition parties. Some candidates were reportedly offered up to UGX 500 million to switch sides,” Rubongoya told reporters.
Despite the criticism, Tayebwa remained defiant. “The defections are voluntary and based on personal choice. NRM continues to appeal to leaders who want to work for the development of their communities,” he said.
Observers note that, while high-profile defections make headlines, the core support base for NUP remains largely intact, with only a few genuine parliamentary candidates defecting in the Tooro and Rwenzori sub-regions.
