The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has dropped Mawokota South MP Yusuf Nsibambi as its parliamentary whip following his defection to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM). He has been replaced by Soroti Woman MP Ann Adeke.
Speaker of Parliament Anita Among announced the changes, dismissing claims from some opposition legislators that Nsibambi was confused and instead describing the 61 year old as a brilliant young man.
Nsibambi’s shift to the NRM follows his defeat in the recent general elections, where he lost the Mawokota South seat to NRM candidate Suzan Nakawuki.
His defection was formalised after a meeting with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at State House Entebbe, where he was part of a group of opposition politicians who recently lost their parliamentary bids.
The group, comprising 17 members, included Moses Kabusu of Kyamuswa County, who contested under the People’s Front for Freedom, and former Kawempe North MP Latif Ssebaggala of the National Unity Platform (NUP), among others.
Following the meeting, Nsibambi said the engagement with the President lasted nearly two hours, significantly longer than previous interactions.
“The meeting took place at State House Entebbe, and the President gave us two full hours of discussion, something unprecedented, because previously he would only give us about 40 minutes,” Nsibambi said.
He noted that discussions focused on a range of national issues, including the fate of political prisoners, particularly young people he said were misled during the election period.
“We believe dialogue is possible, and it was on the agenda. The President said he has no problem with their release and urged us to rehabilitate them,” Nsibambi said.
However, he added that the President clarified he does not have direct authority to release prisoners unless they apply for amnesty.
“He said there is a plea bargaining process through which some of them can be released,” Nsibambi added.
Nsibambi also revealed that the meeting briefly touched on former presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, although no detailed discussions were held.
“We did not go into details, so we don’t fully understand the matter. He said the issue can be formally tabled by the NUP leadership for discussion,” he said.
Nsibambi was among a number of opposition legislators who lost their seats in the 2026 general elections and have since engaged the President on their political future, a move that signals shifting dynamics within Uganda’s opposition politics.
