By Eye Media | Kampala | June 6, 2025
In a major political shakeup ahead of the 2026 general elections, Speaker of Parliament Annet Anita Among has officially confirmed that eight Members of Parliament have defected from their original political parties.
The announcement was made during a special parliamentary sitting at Kololo Independence Grounds on Thursday, shortly before President Yoweri Museveni delivered his State of the Nation Address.
In her communication to the House, Speaker Among stated: “We wish these Members well in exercising their freedom of association, as prescribed in Article 29 of the 1995 Constitution, which we are committed to upholding.”
The latest wave of defections sees opposition parties — particularly National Unity Platform (NUP) and Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) — losing key legislators to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and the newly-formed Democratic Front (DF).
Here is the confirmed list of MPs who have switched political camps:
👉 1. Twaha Kagabo (Bukoto South) — From NUP to NRM
👉 2. Akol Anthony (Kilak North) — From FDC to NRM
👉 3. Ongiertho Emmanuel (Jonam County) — From FDC to NRM
👉 4. Ojara Martin Mapenduzi (Bardege-Layibi Division) — From Independent to NRM
👉 5. Mathias Mpuuga (Nyendo-Mukungwe) — From NUP to DF
👉 6. Dr. Abed Bwanika (Kimaanya-Kabonera) — From NUP to DF
👉 7. Michael Kakembo (Entebbe Municipality) — From NUP to DF
👉 8. Juliet Nakabuye Kakande (Masaka City Woman MP) — From NUP to DF
The NUP has suffered the biggest blow, losing five MPs in total — one to the NRM and four to DF.
Observers say the formation of the Democratic Front is already shaking up opposition ranks, while the ruling NRM continues to attract new converts.
Meanwhile, legal experts have pointed to Article 83 of the Constitution, which provides that an MP may lose their seat if they voluntarily leave the party under which they were elected. However, exceptions apply during the final 12 months before a general election, which allows MPs some room to freely realign in preparation for the next polls.
With campaigns already taking shape, political watchers predict more defections and realignments in the coming months.
