Speaker Annet Anita Among has officially announced that eight Members of Parliament have changed their political party affiliations. The declaration was made during a special parliamentary sitting at Kololo Independence Grounds, just before President Yoweri Museveni’s State of the Nation Address.

Among read out the names of the MPs and confirmed receiving formal notifications of their defections, stating, “We wish these members well in exercising their freedom of association, as prescribed in Article 29 of the 1995 Constitution.”

The defections primarily involve opposition and independent MPs, with most shifting to either the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) or the newly formed Democratic Front (DF). The National Unity Platform (NUP) recorded the highest number of exits, losing five MPs, including Bukoto South MP Twaha Kagabo, who moved to the NRM.

Additionally, Kilak North MP Akol Anthony and Jonam County’s Ongiertho Emmanuel left the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) for the NRM, while Ojara Martin Mapenduzi, MP for Bardege-Layibi Division, also joined the ruling party after previously being independent.

Four MPs have joined the Democratic Front, including Nyendo-Mukungwe MP Mathias Mpuuga, Kimaanya-Kabonera’s Dr. Abed Bwanika, Entebbe Municipality’s Michael Kakembo, and Masaka City Woman MP Juliet Nakabuye Kakande—all formerly with NUP.

Under Article 83 of Uganda’s Constitution, MPs may lose their seats if they voluntarily leave the party under which they were elected. However, the law allows free political association in the final 12 months before a general election, enabling MPs to realign ahead of the polls.

These defections reflect growing internal tensions within opposition parties, with some members expressing discontent over leadership and strategic direction. While the eight MPs have officially switched parties, others—particularly from FDC—have signaled similar intentions but remain legally aligned with their original affiliations until formal action is taken.