KAMPALA.
Seven legislators, majority from the Democratic Party (DP) have officially crossed to National Unity Platform (NUP) just months to next year’s general elections.
The group comprising ; Ms Joan Namutaawe, the Woman MP for Masaka District; Ms Fortunate Nantongo, (Kyotera District Woman MP ); John Paul Mpalanyi (Kyotera County), and Lutamaguzi Ssemakula,( Nakaseke South) – all formerly of DP .
Dr Timothy Batuwa (Jinja South West) and David Isabirye Aga (Jinja North)- both formerly with the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and Patrick Nsanja of Ntenjeru South, who joined Parliament as an independent but previously subscribed to ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) .
The new entrants were welcomed by NUP President Robert Kyagulanyi at the party headquarters in Makerere Kavule, a Kampala City suburb. However, there was heavy security presence round the NUP headquarters with soldiers and operatives from various agencies surrounding the offices for the better part of Wednesday morning .
The latest defections to NUP mirrors exactly what happened in 2020 just months after the unveiling of NUP when several legislators from DP joined the new political party .The group that joined NUP that time included former Leader of Opposition Mathias Mpuuga , Butambala County MP Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi, Betty Nambooze(Mukono Municipality) , Merdard Ssegoona (Busiro East) , Moses Kasibante ( former Lubaga North MP) , Joseph Ssewungu( Kalungu West) , Allan Ssewanyana (Makindye West) , Ssempala Kigozi( Makindye /Ssabagabo) ,Veronic Nanyondo( Bukomansimbi Woman MP) and Florence Namayanja ( then MP for Bukoto East ) and late Robinah Ssentongo( former Kyotera District Woman MP)
Formed in 2004 as the National Unity, Reconciliation and Development Party (NURP), the party was relatively unknown until July 2020, Robert Kyagulanyi—popularly known as Bobi Wine, brought his People Power movement into the game.
In the 2021 general elections, NUP won 56 parliamentary seats, displacing the Forum for Democratic Change as the country’s largest opposition party.
The party’s message of change, social justice, and democratic reform resonated widely, especially in Buganda Sub Region .
Since then, NUP has continued to build its support base, drawing members from other opposition parties and independent ranks. Currently , the party is carrying out a mass recruitment exercise of new members across the country .