Kagadi, Uganda: President Yoweri Museveni has welcomed Buyaga East Constituency NUP flag bearer Asingwire Brian to the National Resistance Movement (NRM) after the opposition candidate officially withdrew from the parliamentary race and crossed to the ruling party.
Museveni made the remarks on Saturday during an NRM campaign rally at Muhooro Playground in Kagadi District, where he publicly hailed Asingwire and praised his decision to join the ruling party.
“I welcome my son Asingwire Brian, the Buyaga East Constituency NUP flag bearer, who has officially stepped down from the race and crossed to the National Resistance Movement,” Museveni said.
“The NRM message cannot be hidden. The Bible in Matthew chapter 5 verse 15 says, ‘Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.’”
Asingwire’s withdrawal from the race significantly reshapes the political contest in Buyaga East ahead of the January 15 parliamentary elections, giving NRM’s flag bearer, Twesige Stephen, a clearer path to reclaiming the seat.
In the 2021 general elections, Asingwire contested on the NUP ticket but finished far behind, polling only 633 votes. The race was narrowly won by Independent candidate Musana Eric, the current MP, who secured 26,239 votes against Twesige Stephen’s 24,067.
NRM strategists say Asingwire’s defection is expected to consolidate ruling party support in the constituency as campaigns intensify in the Bunyoro sub-region.
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