FDC's Nsibambi reveals details of his meeting with President Museveni

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A few days after the January 15, 2026, general elections, Counsel Yusuf Nsibambi, who had just lost the Mawokota South seat to the National Resistance Movement’s (NRM) Suzan Nakawuki, appeared on a local television morning talk show and dared to say what many of his peers fear.

The legislator belonging to the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party revealed that he had reached out to religious leaders and various politicians who were willing to engage President Yoweri Museveni in an effort to de-escalate rising political tensions.

At the time, this was all but a rumour. But this perception would change on Friday, February 6, 2026, when photos began circulating on social media showing President Museveni in the company of Nsibambi.

Others in the picture frame included Rukiga County lawmaker Roland Ndyomugyenyi (Independent), former Kawempe North MP Latif Ssebagala, who is an avowed National Unity Platform (NUP) supporter, and Kyamuswa County MP Moses Kabuusu (PFF).

According to sources, others who attended included Kioga County MP Moses Okot P’Bitek (FDC), Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Western Region Vice President Robert Centenary, who unsuccessfully contested for the Kasese Municipality seat, Mukono South incumbent Fred Kayondo (DP), who lost his seat to former Makerere University Guild President and NUP’s Robert Maseruka, and lawyer Richard Lumu, who was defeated in the Mityana South race.

It has since emerged that the meeting took place the previous day, on February 4, 2026.

Planning for the Museveni meeting 

In various interviews with YouTubers, Nsibambi said this was the fourth time he had engaged the Fountain of Honour within the space of a year, with the most recent meetings taking place on January 3 and February 5.

He added that while his previous engagements had involved small delegations, this time the group comprised 17 individuals drawn from across the political spectrum.

Participation, he said, was based on willingness rather than formal consultations with political parties. Prior to this, he said they had consulted with the Electoral Commission (EC), Inter Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU), and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abbas Byakagaba.

“We consulted widely across the country, mindful that the situation has reached a point where the President has been in power for forty years. Each time we are speaking the same things. People, especially youths whom the President describes as criminals, are in prisons,” he said.

“We think many of them are simply young, energetic, unemployed, and without hope. If engaged, they can be calmed down, while the government puts in place measures to ensure they also share in the national cake,” Nsibambi explained.

Release of political prisoners

While sections of the opposition have dismissed the group as self-seekers, Nsibambi said political reality shows that the opposition stands little chance of uprooting a regime that has, in his view, tightened its grip on dissenting voices.

Nsibambi said the delegation to State House placed particular emphasis on the release of political prisoners, numbering over 1,000, who were arrested during the recently concluded elections.

In response, he said President Museveni indicated he had no objection to the release of suspects who had not yet been charged. However, those already facing court cases would have to wait for the legal process to run its course, after which the President could invoke constitutional pardon or amnesty.

“He said that if we gave the matter prominence, the government would have a responsibility to acknowledge public outcry and release the prisoners,” Nsibambi added.

“But they would first have to seek forgiveness and promise not to engage in riotous acts,” he explained.

Fate of Muwanga Kivumbi

The other issue that they discussed was the fate of Butambala County lawmaker Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi.

Muwanga Kivumbi, who is the chairperson of the House Committee on Public Accounts Committee (Central), was arrested in the aftermath of the polls and detained by authorities, who have since slapped terrorism charges on him.

This is in connection with incidents of electoral violence where prosecutors allege that he and others at large carried out coordinated attacks on the Kibibi Police station and the district tally centre.

His case, it is understood, was not on the agenda but was raised by Counsel Yusuf Nsibambi.

“I raised it because I went and visited Muwanga Kivumbi when he had just lost supporters, buried, and spoke to youths who were present,” he elaborated.

Nsibambi says that in their plea, the delegation asked the President to hold an inquest to ascertain what exactly happened on the ground, which the latter reportedly bought.

Transition of power

The other issue discussed was the transition of political power, though he was reluctant to revisit its contents.

“We spoke with the President for 2 hours and 40 minutes. All the time we have visited him with leaders, he has never given us 40 minutes. So in the meeting we spoke about a lot of things. The other thing is that we were seventeen, but only nine of us appeared in the photo,” he disclosed.

Going forward, he said that they hope to convene a large meeting of about 500 people drawn from across Uganda, especially Buganda, and form a committee to disseminate these issues to avoid any misinformation.

At the moment, Nsibambi said they are still considering what to call it, ranging from a Peace and Reconciliation Platform.