In its Kunga campaign, the National Unity Platform (NUP) has snatched at least 40 members from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).
In an effort to promote the message of change at all levels across the nation in 2022, NUP launched the Kunga campaign, which uses mobilization committees from villages, parishes, and the national level.
Habib Buwembo, the FDC Secretary for Labor and a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC), was introduced by the party on Sunday along with 47 other FDC members.
On January 12, 2023, Buwembo—a well-known opponent of President Museveni—announced his resignation from his roles as Secretary for Labor, NEC member, and FDC member.
“I Buwembo Habib of the FDC membership card No. 593450 and NIN CM82101106615C hereby confirm that I have today 12th day of January 2023 resigned as FDC NEC member in position of secretary for labour and pensions and also as a member of FDC,” he wrote.
Buwembo and the crew were officially accepted to NUP on Sunday at the party headquarters in Kamwokya, a suburb of Kampala, by NUP national mobilizer Fred Nyanzi aka Chairman Nyanzi.
Speaking to the media, Nyanzi praised the group for its dedication and commitment to the fight for change, saying that his hiring will help the National Unity Platform’s morale.
“We have always looked out to have people like Buwembo whose determination for change and rule of law in Uganda is uncompromised,” Nyanzi said adding that said both the FDC and NUP agitate for a noble change of power through their United Forces of Change and KUNGA Campaign, respectively.
Buwembo claimed that his departure from FDC was caused by a lack of accountability and openness, saying that he was prepared to work for NUP.
He denied claims that he joined the NUP to gain political traction so that he could run for the Rubaga South seat, claiming that he only joined the party to lend support to the effort to remove president Museveni.
In the 2016 elections, Buwembo ran as an MP candidate for Rubaga South but fell short against Paul Kato Lubwana.
Opposition leaders in Uganda, including Dr. Kizza Besigye and Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, made the commitment to work together to bring about change in 2023 last year.
The leader of the United Forces of Change, Kyagulanyi, who is also the president of the National Unity Platform, declared that nothing would demoralize the Ugandans working for change and urged all opposition supporters to band together and work for change.
However, many individuals believe that efforts to forge a cohesive opposition working toward a single objective will be jeopardized by the FDC members’ defection to the NUP.