FDC’s Nsibambi and the long walk to NRM

Kampala, Uganda: The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon Anita Among on Wednesday unveiled former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Chief Whip Hon Yusuf Nsibambi as the newest entrant into the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), marking what many describe as the culmination of a long political drift from opposition activism to establishment alignment.

The announcement was made at the NRM headquarters on Kyadondo Road, where Ms Among declared that Nsibambi had officially joined the “movement dedicated to safeguarding and strengthening our nation’s achievements.”

“I have brought Hon Nsibambi to join NRM. Today, February 18th, he has joined NRM. He believes and has said he had known what NRM had done and that since joining Parliament, he has seen it and wants to be in a team that delivers for this country,” Among stated.

From FDC to NRM Recruit

Nsibambi, a veteran law lecturer and outgoing Mawokota South MP, lost his seat to NRM’s Suzan Nakawuki in the January 2026 general elections, a defeat that significantly weakened his standing within the opposition.

His defection to the ruling party comes barely two weeks after his high-profile February 5, 2026, visit to State House Entebbe, where he and a delegation of opposition legislators met President Yoweri Museveni, and held “high-profile talks”.

That meeting, officially framed as a dialogue on national reconciliation, stability, and the release of political detainees, sparked backlash within sections of the opposition who accused Nsibambi of cozying up to the ruling establishment. Critics argued that the visit blurred ideological lines at a time when opposition forces were contesting electoral outcomes and alleging irregularities.

Nsibambi has met Museveni multiple times in the past year, repeatedly advocating dialogue over confrontation, a posture that increasingly placed him at odds with hardline voices inside FDC.

During his unveiling, Nsibambi delivered candid remarks that have since fueled further controversy. He praised Among’s fundraising skills during her time in FDC, crediting her with building the party’s base and sustaining campaign financing.

“When she left, FDC collapsed,” Nsibambi said, adding that during the recent elections, candidates allegedly received no facilitation for nomination fees, posters, or agents.

He described Among as a “super striker” and declared his desire to join “a party with such players,” signaling clear admiration for NRM’s organizational strength.

The comments were swiftly interpreted by some opposition actors as an admission of structural weakness within FDC — and by others as justification for his political migration.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

Nsibambi’s crossover is not isolated. Speaker Among has in recent years facilitated the alignment of several opposition-leaning legislators with NRM structures.

These include Anthony Akol, who formally crossed from FDC to NRM in early 2025, and Ojara Martin Mapenduzi, who signed a Memorandum of Understanding with NRM in 2023.

Political observers say the strategy reflects a broader consolidation drive within NRM — targeting experienced opposition figures who may be politically vulnerable after electoral defeats.

Nsibambi’s critics argue that his meetings with President Museveni and his perceived “soft stance” toward government policy had long signaled his departure from mainstream opposition politics.

Within FDC circles, some had previously questioned whether his engagements at State House undermined party cohesion. His supporters, however, maintain that dialogue is not betrayal but statesmanship.

Now outside FDC, Nsibambi appears determined to reposition himself within the ruling establishment, pledging to contribute to what he termed a “winning team.”

Nsibambi’s journey to the ruling party signals the fluidity of Uganda’s political landscape, particularly in the aftermath of competitive elections. While NRM celebrates the addition as a sign of growing inclusivity, opposition actors view it as another dent in their ranks.

Whether this “long walk” enhances Nsibambi’s political future or reshapes alignments in central Uganda remains to be seen, but for now, the former FDC stalwart has crossed the aisle decisively.