The Member of Parliament for Jonam County in Pakwach District, Emmanuel Ongiertho, has met with President Yoweri Museveni at State House Entebbe, sparking speculation about his potential defection from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
While the exact purpose of Ongiertho’s meeting with the President remains unclear, sources indicate that he may be considering a crossover to the NRM.
This development follows the recent defection of another FDC MP, Anthony Akol, to the NRM, highlighting a concerning trend for the opposition party.
Ongiertho’s meeting with President Museveni has attracted significant attention in Ugandan politics, especially in light of the growing number of opposition MPs leaving for the ruling party.
FDC whip in Parliament, Yusuf Nsibambi, attributed these defections to the substantial financial incentives provided by the NRM.
“It’s the NRM money that is too much for our members to resist,” Nsibambi stated. “As a whip, I have done my best, but I can’t even buy fuel for my caucus MPs, while the NRM continues to lure them with large sums of money, mostly in dollars.”
As the FDC grapples with retaining its members, Ongiertho’s decision will be closely monitored. Will he follow in the footsteps of his colleagues and defect to the NRM, or will he choose to remain loyal to the FDC? Only time will tell.
