As the country nears general elections early next year, the National Unity Platform (NUP) flag bears, leaders and supporters have continued to abandoned their party in favor of the ruling National resistance movement (NRM).
Yesterday in Rwakitura, NRM presidential candidate Yoweri Kaguta Museveni hosted a section of members of NUP from districts of Nakaseke, Luwero and Busoga who defected to the NRM.
President Museveni officially welcomed the group into NRM, a party he described as clearheaded and with correct ideology embedded in its core values of patriotism, pan-Africanism, democracy and socio-economic Transformation.
The defectors later handed in their NUP membership cards and were dressed in NRM t-shirts bearing Museveni’s portrait.
President Museveni asked the converts to shun violence and politics of identity instead work towards national unity and development.
Last week while receiving NUP coordinators in Bunyoro subregion, Museveni said that he was working towards more converts from the rest of the opposition parties.
The NUP party since October has lost close to eight MP flagbearers, a couple of party leaders and supporters to the NRM from various districts across the country.
Some of these include: Zaituni Yahaya Bibikola for Semabula women seat, Harriert Musumba for Bundibugyo, Twalib Osama for Kumi county, Robinson Lackara, NUP registrar in northern Uganda among others.
According to former NUP registrar in northern Uganda, Robinson Lackara, his defecting to NRM is linked with NUP principles who he accuses of preaching hate and pushing for violence.