In a significant political development, Speaker of Parliament Anita Among yesterday officially confirmed that eight Members of Parliament (MPs) have changed their party affiliations. The announcement came during a special parliamentary sitting held at Kololo Independence Grounds, drawing considerable attention from both the public and political circles.
Reading from a list of formal notifications she had received, Speaker Among highlighted a series of defections, many of which bolster the ranks of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Bukoto South MP Twaha Kagabo was among the most notable crossovers, switching allegiance from the National Unity Platform (NUP) to the NRM. Kilak North MP Akol Anthony and Jonam County’s Ongiertho Emmanuel also moved from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) to the ruling party. Additionally, Ojara Martin Mapenduzi, MP for Bardege-Layibi Division, shifted from an independent status to the NRM.
Meanwhile, the newly-formed Democratic Front has attracted four MPs formerly affiliated with NUP: Nyendo-Mukungwe MP Mathias Mpuuga, Kimaanya-Kabonera’s Dr. Abed Bwanika, Entebbe Municipality’s Michael Kakembo, and Masaka City Woman MP Juliet Nakabuye Kakande.
Speaker Among noted that while these eight MPs have formalized their new political affiliations, several others—particularly from the FDC—have publicly expressed similar intentions but remain legally tied to their original parties for now.
As the 2026 General Elections approach, such political realignments are expected to reshape Uganda’s parliamentary landscape.
