Mawokota South Member of Parliament, Yusuf Nsibambi has said he has not joined the ruling NRM party for money but to serve.
Speaking shortly after being unveiled officially as a new NRM member, Nsibambi said he has all the riches he would need, noting that he has not been influenced by money as many would say.
“If there is anything to eat(money) I will take it since I am also a Ugandan but I have joined NRM to serve. I have not joined NRM to eat. I ask you to tell Ugandans that the NRM is not as bad as we have been portraying it,” Nsibambi told journalists at the NRM headquarters in Naguru.
Nsibambi has been in the spotlight for now two weeks since leading opposition MPs and other politicians to meet President Museveni at State House in Entebbe.
The meeting came a few weeks after losing his Mawokota South seat in the January, 14 elections.
Appearing on Sanyuka Television later, Nsibambi defended the meeting and said some Ugandans had wrongly assumed that engaging the President brings immediate cash benefits.
“Many of those who are struggling are the ones who believe that meeting President Museveni means you will receive money. I am not in that category,” he said, stressing that his mission was not about personal gain.
The Mawokota South MP said he was encouraged that President Museveni had shown some willingness to hear concerns about prisoners detained after election unrest.
“I’m glad President Museveni agreed to listen to our plea and to release prisoners including those who need rehabilitation,” Nsibambi said.
Speaking on Wednesday, the Mawokota South legislator sang praises for President Museveni whom he described as welcoming.
“After meeting him, I realised this is not the Museveni I thought he was. Museveni is listening, has a thinktank and consults, unlike in the opposition where we blow our trumpets for nothing.”
He said jumping ship to the ruling NRM party came after realising there was “no future” in the opposition.
Nsibambi’s crossing to the ruling NRM party has left tongues wagging for many, especially within the opposition.
Commenting about Nsibambi’s move, Leader of Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi said they are now vindicated.
“That’s his right. And what we have been saying is that it’s good that he is now forthright about his intentions. Because the past few days, he’s been pretentious about the situation,” Ssenyonyi said.
It remains to be seen what will follow, after Nsibambi joining the ruling party.
