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).
Below are the confirmed 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.