The (NRN), a youth-led pressure group within the ruling (NRM), has criticized what it calls the growing trend of recruiting opposition politicians into the party and rewarding them with government positions while long-serving cadres are left out.
The outcry follows the recent recruitment of Yusuf Nsibambi from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), as well as declarations by party leaders that more opposition members will be brought into the Movement.
Speaking on Monday at Kati Kati Restaurant in Kampala, the group described the practice as “political fishing” and warned that it risks demoralizing loyal members who have built and defended the Movement for decades.
Sylvia Kemirembe, a youth leader in the NRN, said the party must not sacrifice loyalty for political convenience.
“We strongly disagree with the emerging practice of recruiting politically rejected opposition figures and publicly parading them as converts, only to position them for government appointments or strategic placement within state structures,” Kemirembe said.
“While the NRM remains a broad-based Movement open to all Ugandans who genuinely subscribe to its ideology, opportunistic political crossovers driven by convenience rather than conviction risk demoralizing loyal cadres who have defended and built this Movement for decades.”
She emphasized that the NRM was founded on sacrifice and discipline, not transactional politics.
“The NRM was not built on transactional politics. It was built on sacrifice, discipline and ideological clarity. Rewarding political convenience over proven loyalty creates frustration within the rank and file and weakens internal morale. The Movement must prioritize ideological commitment over numerical theatrics,” she added.
The youth group said many committed members at grassroots level feel sidelined as former opposition figures are fast-tracked into influential positions shortly after crossing to the ruling party.
Beyond recruitment concerns, the NRN also weighed in on the upcoming Speakership race in Parliament.
Jude Mugagga Wannume called for a publicly broadcast debate for all legislators who have declared interest in the position of Speaker in the 12th Parliament.
“The Office of the Speaker of Parliament is one of the highest constitutional offices in the land. It shapes legislative direction, safeguards parliamentary order and influences governance oversight,” Mugagga said.
“We, the NRN, therefore propose a publicly broadcast Speakership debate involving all legislators who have formally expressed interest in the position. Parliament belongs to the people. The process of selecting its leadership should reflect openness, intellectual rigor and accountability.”
The group also raised concerns about what they termed as prolonged occupation of the Speakership.
“While continuity can be valuable, prolonged occupation of the office risks transforming it into a political springboard for presidential ambition. The Speakership is a constitutional stewardship role — not a preparatory stage for higher executive office,” Mugagga added.
NRN members further questioned the criteria used in selecting the current Speaker, , arguing that the party may have departed from its original principles under the National Resistance Army (NRA) era.
Ivan Mwijukye challenged the party leadership to clarify whether foundational standards were abandoned.
“Did NRM change from the original principles of the NRA, where we chose a Speaker based on clear competencies such as having served as Chairperson of the Parliamentary Legal Affairs Committee or having been a member of the Constituent Assembly?” Mwijukye asked.
“If those standards are reinstated, they would form a clear benchmark for leadership. We ask that competence and institutional norms be prioritized over personal or gender considerations.”
The youth group maintained that its concerns are raised out of loyalty to the Movement and not rebellion.
“The future of the NRM depends not merely on electoral victories, but on disciplined internal systems, ideological consistency and leadership structures that strengthen, rather than strain, national cohesion. We remain committed to patriotism above partisanship, systems over personalities and institutional strength over short-term political maneuvering,” Kemirembe said.
Youths also urged the NRM party leadership to protect internal morale by rewarding loyalty and upholding institutional principles rather than embracing what they described as politically expedient crossovers.
