Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has criticized leaders of the National Unity Platform (NUP) and certain sections of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), saying they contribute nothing to the country and instead lead young people into danger. He made these remarks on his social‑media platform after meeting a group of former NUP and FDC members who had defected to his party at Kololo.
The President thanked the defectors for choosing to reform and pledged the ruling National Resistance Movement’s (NRM) support for their reintegration into society. He also praised former prisoners who have renounced opposition politics, stating that they have earned forgiveness. Museveni received a memorandum from the defectors and promised to review it.
He urged young people to concentrate on government initiatives and opportunities in key sectors such as commercial agriculture, artisanship, industry, services, and information and communication technology (ICT). However, some Ugandans expressed skepticism about the authenticity of the defections. One social‑media user suggested that the moves might be motivated by financial gain, with individuals mobilising groups to claim defection in exchange for benefits.
The development comes as President Museveni was recently nominated to run for a seventh term as the NRM’s flagbearer in the 2026 general elections. His comments and the defections have sparked discussion about Uganda’s political landscape and the role of opposition parties. The NRM has been in power since 1986, and Museveni’s nomination sets the stage for another election cycle. As the 2026 elections approach, interactions between the ruling party and opposition groups are likely to remain a significant aspect of Uganda’s political scene.
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