Should Bobi Wine fear DP oldies?

NRM not affected

As Bobi Wine’s NUP and Mugisha Muntu’s ANT eat into the dominant opposition DP and FDC parties it is clear the opposition is headed for more surprise defeats in the 2021 election in a battle to control the opposition in parliament. If the recent opinion polls are anything to go by, indicators show that the NRM again is headed to retain its domination of parliament and therefore get to pass any law they want.

But do the new political formations and defections within the opposition portend anything for Museveni and his NRM?

Museveni appears to have worked well with UPC and DP since he has appointed some of his ministers from these opposition parties; as he fought with FDC. As soon as he had been sworn in as president of Uganda 2016 -2021, Museveni swore not to have any opposition in Uganda by 2021. He appears to have been good on his word based on the confusion and in-fights within Uganda’s political opposition.

Emmanuel Dombo, the NRM spokesman, says the political defections to and from opposition do not affect the NRM as such.

“NRM is still a mass political party. As witnessed in the winning of the Local Council elections and over the years commanding the biggest number of members of parliament. I can assure you that the same will happen in the coming elections,” says Dombo. There are 302 NRM members of parliament.

Yusuf Sserunkuma, a researcher and political commentator, agrees in part with Dombo.

“The political defections we see are a sign of meal card politicians,” he told The Independent, “It is interesting to have a number of DP members of parliament move to NUP. However, I don’t think it guarantees presidential victory. I don’t think all these people who have joined believe in their principles; I think they joined NUP for their elective security.”

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