LoP Ssenyonyi Says Nsibambi’s Defection to NRM Strengthens Opposition

18 February 2026

AMPALA — Leader of Opposition in Parliament Joel Ssenyonyi has said the decision by outgoing Mawokota South MP Yusuf Nsibambi to cross from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) is actually beneficial to the opposition.

Ssenyonyi’s remarks followed Nsibambi’s formal reception at the NRM Secretariat on Wednesday morning, where he was welcomed by Speaker of Parliament Anita Among and NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong.

At the ceremony, Nsibambi announced that he would return his FDC membership card, saying he had joined what he described as the “struggle for peace.”

“I moved with my FDC tag. When I leave here, I intend to return it,” Nsibambi said, adding that his recent political experience had left him with “a few bruises” that he hoped to clean up.

He also claimed the FDC declined after Speaker Among left the party to join the NRM. “FDC collapsed immediately after Speaker Anita Among left the party and joined NRM,” he said.

Welcoming him, Among described Nsibambi as a valuable addition to the ruling party.

“We have gained a very resourceful and knowledgeable person in Hon. Yusuf Nsibambi, and we assure you that we shall work together,” she said, emphasizing that the NRM is open to all who wish to join.

However, Ssenyonyi dismissed suggestions that Nsibambi’s defection would weaken the opposition, arguing that the movement is rooted in the broader population rather than individual politicians.

“So, we wish him well but as someone would ask, doesn’t this weaken the opposition? Opposition to Mr Museveni is not just we the leaders. The opposition is the people of Uganda who are angry at this regime, who want service delivery, who see a lot of corruption, bad governance and brutality. That opposition does not go away,” Ssenyonyi said later today.

He added that Nsibambi’s move had removed what he described as a “pretentious character” from the opposition ranks.

“He has decided to start his fasting season by crossing over to the NRM. That is his right. I am just glad that we have been vindicated because for a long time he has been pretentious about it,” Ssenyonyi said.

Ssenyonyi referred to a recent closed-door meeting between Nsibambi, other opposition politicians, and President Yoweri Museveni at State House.

While the details of the meeting were not publicly disclosed, Nsibambi had said the discussions were about the plight of opposition leaders detained in various facilities.

Opposition leaders, however, distanced themselves from his claims, with Ssenyonyi suggesting the meeting may have been driven by personal political interests.

“We said, don’t pretend about this. It is clear you went to Mr Museveni. You lost an election and were probably looking for support, maybe some debts to take care of, maybe a job. Be clear about your intentions. Now the pretense is off. He has crossed over,” he said.

Nsibambi’s defection adds to a series of political realignments ahead of the 2026 general elections, with the ruling NRM continuing to attract figures from opposition parties.

Several other prominent politicians who once belonged to opposition parties have in recent years crossed to the ruling NRM.

Among them is Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, who previously served under the FDC before aligning with the NRM and rising through its ranks to become Speaker.

Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa also has roots in the opposition, having earlier been associated with the Democratic Party (DP) before joining the NRM, where he has since built a strong parliamentary career.

Former Kitgum Woman MP Beatrice Anywar, once a leading FDC figure known for her activism against the Mabira forest giveaway, also defected to the NRM and later served as a minister.

By ChimpReports