As Uganda draws closer to the 2026 general elections, the political landscape is once again witnessing a surge in defections, with Members of Parliament and other politicians shifting allegiance from one party to another.
The growing trend reflects a deeper crisis of ideological commitment and internal cohesion within the country’s political formations.
Parliament has formally pronounced several MPs who have crossed to new parties. Among those who have joined the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) are Twaha Kagabo, the Bukoto South MP formerly aligned with the National Unity Platform (NUP); Anthony Akol of Kilak North and Moses Okot of Kioga County, both previously affiliated with the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC); as well as Ojara Martin Mapenduzi, the Bardege-Layibi Division MP who was initially independent.
Another bloc of MPs, including Mathias Mpuuga (Nyendo-Mukungwe), Dr Abed Bwanika (Kimanya-Kabonera), Michael Kakembo (Entebbe Municipality), and Juliet Kakande Nakabuye (Masaka City Woman MP), has defected from NUP to a newly formed political entity named the Democratic Front.
The development has dealt a significant blow to the opposition camp, particularly in the Buganda region where NUP had gained substantial ground.
Meanwhile, NUP itself has also received new entrants. These include Paulson Lutamaguzi (Nakaseke South), formerly of the Democratic Party (DP); Dr Timothy Batuwa Lusala (Jinja South West) and David Aga Isabirye (Jinja City), both formerly FDC; John Lukwago Mpalanyi (Kyotera) and Fortunate Rose Nantongo (Kyotera Woman MP), also from DP; as well as Joan Namutaawe (Masaka District Woman MP) and Patrick Nsanja (Njeru South), both previously independent.
Political analysts argue that the growing number of defections stems from the absence of strong ideological grounding and the failure of parties to properly educate members on their core values and objectives.
Governance commentator Rogers Barigayomwe observes that many politicians join political parties without first examining their ideology. As a result, he says, they often defect when their expectations are not met.
Henry Muguzi, another governance expert, notes that some political parties are run like personal businesses, a characteristic that deters principled leaders.
He believes this contributes to the ease with which politicians abandon their affiliations in search of better opportunities elsewhere.
UPC President Jimmy Akena argues that the problem is more pronounced in newer political formations.
He says parties like UPC, which have long-standing structures and defined channels for leadership progression, rarely face such instability. According to him, strong internal frameworks are key to retaining committed members.
NUP Spokesperson Joel Ssenyonyi acknowledges that during the party’s rapid rise in 2020, a number of individuals joined without fully grasping its ideology.
He notes that such members have since fallen off, and the party has grown more vigilant in ensuring that those joining now are well-aligned with its principles and long-term vision.
The defections also reveal emerging regional trends. In the central region, particularly Buganda, many politicians continue to gravitate toward NUP.
In the western region, the NRM remains dominant, while in the Lango sub-region, UPC maintains its historical foothold.
At the same time, older political parties such as DP and FDC are visibly weakened, their influence diminished by the ongoing exodus of elected leaders.
As party lines blur and the political tide shifts, the question remains: will Uganda’s political actors prioritize ideology and principles going forward, or will party loyalty continue to be a temporary arrangement—traded at the convenience of the next electoral wave?