Nine Independent MPs Seek Structured Cooperation With NRM

Kampala — A group of nine newly elected Members of Parliament who leaned independent in the 2026 elections have formally expressed interest in working with the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), signaling an early push toward parliamentary cooperation ahead of the new legislature.

The MPs — Esther Achom (Serere), Peter Ojiji (Pingire), Mercy Kanyesigye (National Female Youth), Rose Mutonyi (Manafwa), Ronald Mutego (Butaleja), Emmanuel Illukol (Bukora County), Anthony Tumusiime (Isingiro), Spellanza Baguma (Kyenjojo), and Richard Ssenteza (Buikwe) — were on Wednesday led to the NRM headquarters by the Speaker of Parliament and the party’s Second National Vice Chairperson (Female), Rt. Hon. Anita Among.

At the party secretariat, the group was received by senior NRM leaders led by the Deputy Secretary General, Rt. Hon. Namayanja Rose Nsereko, alongside officials from the party’s legal department.

Speaker Among: Cooperation strengthens governance 

Addressing the meeting, Speaker Among commended the MPs for opting for dialogue and cooperation with the ruling party, noting that many of them had initially participated in NRM primaries before contesting as independents.

“We know some of you participated in the primaries but did not succeed, and you stood as independents. You were fortunate enough to win the vote. We thank you for showing interest in working with the mighty party,” Among said.

She further praised the MPs for their contribution to President Yoweri Museveni’s 2026 electoral victory, emphasizing that the NRM remains open to working with all leaders committed to stability, development, and national unity.

NRM underscores inclusivity, MOUs 

Deputy Secretary General Namayanja Rose Nsereko welcomed the MPs, describing their decision as timely and pragmatic. She reiterated the NRM’s long-standing policy of engaging leaders across political lines in the interest of national development.

“As our policy in NRM, we work with everybody. There are 67 independents in Parliament, and 54 of those participated in NRM primaries,” Namayanja said. “I must thank those who have shown interest in signing Memoranda of Understanding on how we are to cooperate with the NRM in the next five years.”

She clarified that while many independents remain members of the NRM, party rules restrict official backing once a candidate opts to contest outside the party ticket.

“When they stand as independents, they do not get our flag, and we do not canvass votes for them. Financially, only NRM flag bearers were supported,” she explained, adding that party officials who chose the independent route were required to step aside from party positions.

Despite this, Namayanja stressed that the door remains open for structured collaboration aimed at advancing the national agenda.

“In case there are those who went through, we want everyone to join us to take the country forward,” she said.

Legal position: Cooperation, not defection

The NRM Director for Legal Services, Counsel Enoch Barata, provided clarity on the legal framework guiding the engagement, emphasizing that the MPs are not defecting to the ruling party.

“The general idea of this cooperation is not that one has changed their party to NRM, but rather that we enter into an agreement to cooperate on several issues,” Barata said. “This mainly involves supporting resolutions of the NRM Parliamentary Caucus.”

He explained that the MPs would be eligible to sign cooperation Memoranda of Understanding after they are formally gazetted and sworn into Parliament.

“We thank you for recognizing at this early stage of your duties that it will be important for you to cooperate with the NRM, which has the majority in Parliament,” Barata added. “This is being done in the spirit of advancing the interests of your people.”

Early signal for the 11th Parliament

The engagement marks one of the earliest political signals ahead of the new parliamentary term, underscoring the NRM’s strategy of consolidating working relationships with independents to ensure legislative stability. For the independent MPs, the cooperation offers a pathway to influence policy and deliver tangible outcomes for their constituencies while maintaining their independent status.

As preparations continue for the swearing-in of the new Parliament, the proposed MOUs are expected to define the scope of collaboration, particularly on key legislative priorities aligned with the government’s development agenda for the next five years.