In a dramatic political turn, Brian Jakisa Mungu, the National Unity Platform (NUP) Coordinator for the Acholi Sub-region, has officially joined the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) together with 36 of his supporters. The defection was announced on Wednesday during President Yoweri Museveni’s campaign rally at Kaunda Grounds in Gulu City.
Mungu and his team—comprising district registrars, coordinators, and mobilizers from Gulu and surrounding districts—were warmly received by President Museveni and senior NRM officials amid cheers from the crowd.
Speaking at the event, Mungu said his decision to abandon NUP followed what he called “a deep reflection” on the party’s lack of clear leadership and practical solutions for Uganda’s youth. “We are fighting for leadership, but what we see in the opposition is only excitement. Uganda cannot be ruled by excitement—we need vision and stability, and that is what President Museveni represents,” he declared.
He added that joining the NRM was not about personal gain but about positioning himself and other young people to influence change from within the system. “Crossing to NRM may not fix everything, but it gives us a voice in decision-making. How can you expect to be heard when you’re shouting from outside the fence?” he asked.
Reflecting on his journey with NUP, Mungu described his experience as painful and unrewarding. “I joined NUP during the People Power movement full of hope, but I lost everything. I have been arrested and detained many times, and the party offered no support. Some of our colleagues are still in prison, others have fled the country, and many have lost their lives—all because of false promises and empty excitement,” he said.
Another defector, Kelvin Alioda, shared a similar story of frustration and disillusionment. “We thought NUP would give young people a platform for change, but we later realized we were being used. I am tired of living in fear and running from security. I need peace and a future,” she explained.
However, NUP’s Northern Region Deputy Spokesperson, Caesar Rubangakene, dismissed the defections as expected, saying doubts about Mungu’s loyalty had been circulating for months. “We saw this coming, especially after he was not chosen to represent NUP for the Bardege-Layibi Division parliamentary seat,” Rubangakene noted.
Mungu’s defection mirrors that of Bosmic Joyce Otim, a popular musician and once a strong People Power mobilizer, who also joined the NRM in 2020.
The NRM leadership hailed the move as a sign of growing trust in President Museveni’s leadership and the party’s focus on youth empowerment, industrialization, and commercial agriculture. As the 2026 elections approach, the ruling party continues to strengthen its presence in the Acholi Sub-region through economic and grassroots mobilization programs.
