Over 200 NUP Chairpersons, FDC Mobilizers  From Teso Subregion Defect To NRM 

 January 13, 2026   |    20 views

 By Our Reporter|Ngariam Focus

LUGOGO STADIUM,KAMPALA-More than 200 opposition leaders and mobilisers from the National Unity Platform (NUP) and the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) in the Teso sub-region have defected to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), delivering a major political shift just days before the January 15 presidential and parliamentary elections.

The defectors were officially received at the National Council of Sports headquarters in Lugogo by the Rt. Hon. Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, who represented the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Kataha Museveni.

The delegation was led by State Minister for Education and Sports Peter Ogwang and accompanied by several Resident District Commissioners from the region.

The group included former NUP chairpersons, district coordinators and key grassroots mobilisers from all the eleven districts of Teso, among them influential figures from Soroti District, an area long regarded as an FDC stronghold. Their move is expected to significantly weaken opposition mobilization in the sub-region at a critical moment in the electoral calendar.

Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Jonathan Okware, who had been the NUP focal chairperson for Teso sub-region, pledged full allegiance to the NRM and formally handed over the party’s structures to the ruling party leadership. He assured Tayebwa that the defectors were ready to immediately embark on intensive mobilisation to secure votes for President Yoweri Museveni and NRM candidates.

Okware also presented a memorandum addressed to State House through the Deputy Speaker, outlining key socio-economic challenges affecting the region. Among the requests was a call for government support in the form of state scholarships for school dropouts, whom he said had been forced out of education due to poverty.

“We went astray mainly because of poverty,” Okware said. “Many of our people believed that if the opposition took power, life would immediately change. But we have realized that development comes from a stable government with a clear vision.”

He further appealed for employment opportunities for university graduates from Teso, arguing that joblessness among educated youth was fueling frustration and political vulnerability. Okware expressed confidence that, despite the limited time remaining, the defectors would play a decisive role in the elections.

“We still have three days, and those days are enough for us to mobilize massively,” he said. “We are going to deliver a landslide victory for President Museveni and the NRM in Teso.”

State Minister Peter Ogwang, who was the chief mobiliser of the event, applauded the defectors for what he described as a bold and timely decision. He said their choice to join NRM guaranteed them a brighter political future, especially as the ruling party prepares for leadership transition.

“You have made the right decision at the right time,” Ogwang said. “NRM is a party with a clear ideology”

Ogwang used the occasion to launch a sharp attack on NUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, questioning his suitability for national leadership.

“Kyagulanyi, you can never be president of Uganda today or tomorrow because you have no ideology,” Ogwang said. “Leadership is not about excitement and slogans; it is about vision, structure and experience.”

He said the ability of NRM to renew itself internally was one of its greatest achievements, noting that the party had sustained stability and development over decades.

“What NRM has achieved is remarkable,” Ogwang said. “We are not just clinging to power; we are preparing the next generation to lead this country.”

The event was characterized by excitement and celebration, with defectors chanting NRM slogans and openly expressing enthusiasm about their new political home.

The mass defection is most likely to weaken NUP’s recent momentum in Teso, especially because many of those who crossed over were responsible for grassroots mobilisation across districts.

Although NRM has historically dominated most parts of Teso, opposition parties have in recent years gained ground in Soroti City, Soroti District and parts of Serere. In recent weeks, NUP activities had created tension and pressure in areas previously considered safe for the ruling party. The departure of key opposition figures is therefore expected to restore NRM’s electoral advantage.

As he concluded his remarks, Ogwang said the defections had relieved him of a long-standing political burden.

“At least now I can sleep,” Ogwang said. “This battle is finally over. I can confidently assure His Excellency the President that we are winning in Teso with 99 percent. These people had become thorns in our flesh, but today they have joined us.”

In his response, Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa warmly welcomed the defectors and assured them that their concerns would be addressed. He pledged to personally deliver their memorandum to the First Lady and follow up on the issues raised.

“I will ensure that this memorandum reaches the First Lady and that the issues you have raised are followed up,” Tayebwa said. “NRM listens to its people, and that is why it has remained strong.”

Tayebwa highlighted government efforts to tackle unemployment, particularly among young graduates, revealing that a new support fund for fresh university graduates is included in the NRM manifesto.

“We are committed to solving the problem of unemployment,” Tayebwa said. “That is why we are introducing a new fund to support fresh graduates, and this will be implemented in the next financial year.”

He urged the defectors to mobilize peacefully and responsibly, emphasizing unity and national stability as Uganda approaches polling day. The developments in Teso underline the fluid nature of the country’s politics and the high stakes facing both the ruling party and the opposition as voters prepare to cast their ballots.