The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has formally acknowledged the defection of its former parliamentary chief whip, Hon. Yusuf Nsibambi, to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), describing the move as a lamentable but anticipated development that will not shake the party’s core mission.
In a statement released on Wednesday and signed by FDC President Patrick Oboi Amuriat, the party confirmed that Nsibambi, the outgoing Member of Parliament for Mawokota South, had "formally crossed to the NRM" earlier in the week. His departure marks the latest in a series of high-profile defections from the opposition to President Yoweri Museveni’s party.
"While we find this decision by our former Chief Whip disappointing, it is not surprising," Amuriat wrote. He asserted that the party had "observed concerning tendencies" in Nsibambi’s conduct, specifically citing "his engagement at State House without the knowledge or clearance of the party leadership." This matter, the statement revealed, was already under internal review in accordance with Article 12 of the FDC Constitution, which governs membership and discipline.
Nsibambi, a lawyer, was appointed as FDC’s chief whip in 2022, a senior role responsible for party strategy and discipline within Parliament.
Despite the loss, Amuriat’s communiqué projected unwavering confidence. He stressed that the FDC’s strength derives from its foundational ideology and collective structure, not from any single individual. "FDC is not built on individuals but rather on ideology, structures, and the commitment of members across the country," the statement emphasized. "This development does not in any way weaken our party or our resolve in the struggle for democratic change in Uganda."
The party immediately announced steps to contain the fallout. Consultations have begun to fill the now-vacant chief whip position, with a pledge to appoint a replacement "without delay." Furthermore, a special committee will be convened with a dual mandate: to "strengthen internal discipline" and to "improve vetting processes for leadership positions," ensuring future appointees are "ideologically grounded" and committed to the cause of "freedom, justice and democracy."
The defection highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Uganda’s opposition in maintaining unity and resisting what analysts describe as the NRM’s coercive and incentive-driven tactics to retain power. While the FDC frames Nsibambi’s exit as an isolated case of personal divergence from party principles, it also serves as a stark reminder of the asymmetrical political landscape in which the opposition operates.
