The Secretary General of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), Richard Todwong, on Sunday pledged full support to hundreds of former National Unity Platform (NUP) members who crossed over to the ruling party, describing their decision as “a return home.”
Speaking at the NRM Electoral Commission headquarters in Kampala, Todwong officially received the new members and hailed the energy of the predominantly youthful crowd.
“We have shared with you, you are full of life and vibe. We love you so much. We have been missing you. Where have you been?” he said, drawing loud cheers.
Todwong emphasized that the NRM remains the party for young people, urging the defectors to embrace “good politics” based on teamwork and progress rather than hatred and division.
“There are two types of politics,” he noted. “Bad politics teaches you how to hate, how to fight, how to look at yourself as a failed person. But the good politics we in NRM practice helps us work together as a team. When I develop, you should develop.”
He pledged that the NRM would nurture the talents and ambitions of the defectors, particularly in business and innovation.
“We know you have talents and businesses. We want to promote and support them. We also want to help those with ideas to start something new,” Todwong assured.
The NRM Secretary General invited the new members to take part in upcoming activities, including the nomination of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Tuesday, and promised to introduce them to the Head of State.
“I will present you officially to the president. On Wednesday, I want to sit with your leaders and plan how to support you,” he added, urging them to attract more colleagues into the ruling party.
Amid chants, the defectors symbolically exchanged their NUP red and white T-shirts for the NRM’s signature yellow.
Other senior party officials, including Deputy Secretary General Rose Namayanja-Nsereko, National Treasurer Barbara Oundo Nekesa, and Director for Mobilization Dr. Rosemary Seninde, also welcomed the group.
Namayanja, a former opposition youth leader, reminded them that she too once crossed over from the Uganda Young Democrats (UYD).
“Welcome to the winning party and to supporting President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the tried and tested leader in Uganda,” she said.
Nekesa urged the defectors to embrace the NRM’s four guiding principles,Patriotism, Pan-Africanism, Democracy, and Socio-Economic Transformation, highlighting the party’s ongoing fight against poverty.
Seninde echoed the call for unity and development, encouraging them to rally behind President Museveni’s re-election bid.
The mass defection comes as the NRM intensifies mobilization efforts ahead of the 2026 general elections, with leaders framing the ruling party as the home of “good politics,” unity, and sustained national progress.
The Source Reports.
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