Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa has declared that more opposition politicians are set to join the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), saying the recent wave of defections is driven by dialogue and persuasion, not money.
Tayebwa made the remarks on Wednesday at the NRM headquarters in Kyadondo, where he officially received 15 parliamentary candidates who have defected from the National Unity Platform (NUP) and the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).
“We have been engaging and we shall continue to engage,” Tayebwa said, brushing off criticism from those unhappy with the defections. “I don’t expect anyone to applaud us or those who are joining.”
He strongly dismissed claims that the NRM is buying opposition candidates, questioning the logic behind such accusations.
“There is a rumour that we buy these people. How much would you buy them?” he asked. “These are people we have had deeper conversations with. It is a process, and we are still talking.”
Tayebwa insisted that defections will continue as long as the party remains open to dialogue.
“We are going to have more and more people joining us as long as we continue engaging them,” he said, noting that politicians have also previously left NRM to join the opposition.
Reflecting on his own political journey, Tayebwa defended outreach to opposition figures.
“I was once in the opposition and joined NRM. What is wrong with using our contacts to invite others to join us?” he asked.
He described the defections as part of a wider political realignment, arguing that the NRM remains better placed to address Uganda’s challenges.
“We ask them: even if NRM has weaknesses, can the available alternatives solve the problems the country is facing?” Tayebwa said. “Sometimes the answer is to join us and help fix those challenges.”
Tayebwa also called for tolerance in politics, urging parties to stop attacking politicians who change their political allegiance.
“We should stop abusing and blackmailing people for changing their political position,” he said. “It has happened before and it will continue.”
He further insisted that money played no role in the defections.
“These people are not worth any amount. I don’t even have money to pay them,” he said.
According to Tayebwa, the NRM believes every individual has something to contribute to national development.
“When you join, we become one. We work together not just for NRM, but for the good of the country,” he said, adding that the decisions made by the defectors will benefit the communities they represent.
The NUP defectors include David Okullu (Oyam North), Eric Mukomba (Butebo), Joseph Kanto Ochen (Lamwo County), Hillary Tumuhimbise (Rujumbura), Charles Odongo (Kwania North), Dennis Onyum (Kyoga County), Walter Okot (Aswa County) and Godfrey Oryem (Omoro).
Others from NUP are Emmanuel Olebo (Kibale County, Pallisa), Martin Owako (Pallisa County), Yokania Mukeke (Bunyole East), Moses Balikowa (Bunya South) and Yasin Mabaale (Bunyole West).
The FDC defector is Edwin Namanya from Bushenyi-Ishaka.
NRM leaders welcomed the new members and said the party remains open to engaging more opposition politicians ahead of the next elections.