KAMPALA – The Secretary General of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), Richard Todwong, on Sunday pledged sweeping support to hundreds of former National Unity Platform (NUP) members who crossed over to the ruling party, describing their move as “a return home.”
Speaking at the NRM Electoral Commission headquarters in Kampala, where he officially welcomed the new members, Todwong expressed excitement at the youthful crowd that thronged the party offices.
“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 cheers from the defectors.
“The National Resistance Movement is a party for young people. All of you here, the way I see you, were produced during NRM time. And we are committed to make sure you live a full life.”
Todwong contrasted what he called “good politics” and “bad politics,” urging the new recruits to embrace unity and teamwork.
“There are two types of politics,” he explained. “The bad politics teaches you how to hate, how to fight, how to look at yourself as a failed person. But the good politics that we in NRM practice is the politics that helps us work together, be together as a team. Because you are because I am, and since I am, therefore you are. When I develop, you should develop.”
He assured the group that the NRM would nurture their talents and support their ambitions in business and innovation.
“We know you have talents. We want to promote those with talents. We know you have businesses. We want to promote those with businesses. We know you have people with ideas to start something. We want to support you to start something,” Todwong said.
The NRM secretary general invited the defectors to join the party’s major activities in the coming days, including President Yoweri Museveni’s nomination on Tuesday.
“I will present you officially to the president. Then on Wednesday, I want to sit down with your leaders and plan how to support you. I want you to be different now that you have come to NRM, just to show those who are still there that NRM is where to belong,” he declared.
Todwong also appealed to the newcomers to bring more of their colleagues into the ruling party, warning that those who delay might miss out on opportunities.
“For those of your friends who are still not yet here, tell them to come to NRM. Because what we are going to start with you, if they miss, they will not recover,” he said.
Amid chants and applause, Todwong ended the event by exchanging the red and white T-shirts of NUP for the NRM’s signature yellow.
NRM Deputy Secretary General Rose Namayanja-Nsereko welcomed the new supporters, sharing her own journey from the opposition to the ruling party.
“I am one of the founders of Uganda Young Democrats (UYD). But I left it and joined the mighty NRM party,” she said. “Welcome to the winning party and supporting President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the tried and tested leader in Uganda.”
Barbara Oundo Nekesa, the NRM National Treasurer, urged the defectors to embrace the party’s guiding principles as the country pushes toward economic growth.
“We are now enforcing the fourth principle of social economic transformation,” she said. “We are fighting poverty and ensuring that we have money in our pockets as Ugandans. The party you are joining is a party that is guided by four principles: Patriotism, Pan-Africanism, Democracy, and Socio-Economic Transformation.”
Dr. Rosemary Seninde, the NRM Director for Mobilization, echoed the call for unity and development under the party’s leadership.
“Vote NRM, vote President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for continued development for our country Uganda,” she said, highlighting the same four principles as the foundation of the party’s agenda.
The mass defection comes as the NRM intensifies its mobilization drive ahead of President Museveni’s nomination for the 2026 presidential race, with party leaders underscoring their message of “good politics,” unity, and sustained national progress.
The function was also attended by other members of the NRM Secretariat's top leadership, including Hon. Fred Omach, the NRM Deputy EC Chairman; Hon. Emmanuel Lumala Dombo (Director for Communications, Maj. (Rtd) Okwir Rabwoni (Director Youth and Institutions), EC Commissioners Hon. Driwaru Zaitun and Hon. Auma Modesta Juliana.