Justice Forum (JEEMA) spokesperson Swaib Kaggwa Nsereko has urged opposition parties to reform their candidate selection processes, warning that the growing wave of defections to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) threatens the credibility and stability of opposition politics ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Kaggwa said many parties continue to prioritise candidates with financial strength over those committed to party ideology a practice he described as “self-defeating” and “dangerous to the opposition cause.”
“The root of this problem lies in the flawed selection methods, which tend to favour those with the most financial backing rather than those who genuinely align with the party’s values,” Kaggwa said.
He noted that some defectors are “planted” within opposition ranks and lack genuine loyalty, resulting in wasted resources and the loss of parliamentary or local government seats once nominations close.
“Defections lead to the loss of party representation and drain opposition resources, which often end up benefiting the ruling party,” he added.
Kaggwa urged opposition parties to prioritise candidates who are grounded in their ideologies, possess integrity, and demonstrate consistency in advancing party principles.
“We must deploy candidates who are genuinely committed to the cause and have a proven track record. That’s the only way to build a disciplined and resilient opposition,” he said.
The JEEMA spokesperson’s remarks come amid growing concern about several opposition figures crossing to the NRM, a trend political analysts attribute to weak internal democracy and the commercialisation of politics within opposition formations.
Kaggwa emphasised that without urgent reforms, the opposition risks further weakening its ranks and losing public trust.
“If this continues, opposition parties will remain vulnerable to infiltration and collapse from within,” he warned.