NUP Member of Parliament seat flag-bearer, over 50 supporters defect to Movement
Tugume, who was nominated to contest against incumbent MP Pius Wakabi, announced his defection during President Yoweri Museveni’s campaign rally at Boma Grounds in Hoima city on December 9, 2025.
NUP candidate for Bugahya county Allan Clifford Tugume and his mother on the left, posing for a photo with President Museveni and his daughter Natasha and Speaker Anita Annet Among (right). (Photo by Peter Abaanabasazi)
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National Unity Platform's Member of Parliament flag-bearer for Hoima district-based Bugahya County, Allan Clifford Tugume, has defected to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Tugume, who was nominated to contest against incumbent MP Pius Wakabi, announced his defection during President Yoweri Museveni’s campaign rally at Boma Grounds in Hoima city on December 9, 2025.
Tugume was presented to the President by Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among, who said they spoke to Tugume and that he later agreed to cross over to NRM and withdraw from the race.
Tugume told President Museveni that his frustration arising from unemployment forced him to join the leading Opposition political party, NUP.
He added that his grandfather was a civilian war veteran who did not benefit from his efforts, resulting in the liberation of Uganda.
More defectors presented
During the rally, NRM's electoral commission chairperson, Dr Tanga Odoi also presented 53 youth whom he said had also crossed to the NRM.
He said the youth had been misled into joining NUP but that they have since seen the light and decided to join NRM.
Tugume's defection leaves two candidates in the race for the Parliamentary seat: Pius Wakabi and Sharbat Kato Kefa of the Alliance for National Transformation.