Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa has said the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) will continue engaging and persuading opposition politicians to join the party, insisting that the ongoing defections are a result of dialogue rather than inducements.
Tayebwa made the remarks on Wednesday while parading 15 parliamentary candidates from the National Unity Platform (NUP) and the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) who have defected to the NRM. The event took place at the NRM headquarters at Plot 10, Kyadondo.
“We have been engaging and we shall continue to engage,” Tayebwa said. “I see some people are not happy with what we are doing, and I don’t expect them to applaud me or anyone joining us.”
He dismissed claims that the ruling party is buying opposition candidates, questioning the logic behind such allegations.
“There has been a rumour that we buy these people. How much would you buy these people?” Tayebwa asked. “These are people with whom we have had deeper conversations. It is a process, and we continue talking.”
Tayebwa said the growing number of defections would continue as long as the party remains open to dialogue and persuasion.
“We are going to have more and more people joining as long as we continue sweet-talking them,” he said. “The same way many people have left NRM to join the opposition.”
Drawing from his own political journey, Tayebwa defended the practice of reaching out to opposition figures.
“I was in the opposition and joined NRM. What is wrong with invoking our contacts to ask people to come and join us?” he said.
He described the defections as part of a broader effort to politically “realign the country,” arguing that the NRM remains better positioned to address Uganda’s challenges.
“We tell them that even if we have weaknesses as NRM, can the available alternatives solve the problems the country is grappling with?” Tayebwa said. “You would rather join us to solve these challenges.”
Tayebwa also called for tolerance in politics, urging parties to stop attacking individuals who change political allegiance.
“We should stop abusing people and blackmailing them for changing their political position,” he said. “It has been done before and it will continue.”
He further insisted that the defectors were not motivated by money.
“These people are not worth any amount. In fact, I don’t have that amount to pay them,” Tayebwa added.
“We believe everyone has ideas, and the guiding principle of NRM is that everyone can contribute to the development of our country. When you come, we become one, We work together not just for NRM, but for the good of our country. The decisions you have made are not personal; they will contribute to the development of the areas you come from.”
Defectors named
The defectors from NUP 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 defectors include Edwin Namanya from Bushenyi-Ishaka.
The NRM leadership welcomed the new members and said the party remains open to engaging more opposition politicians ahead of the next elections.
