KAMPALA, Uganda — The 12th Parliament will feature a transformed political landscape as veteran National Resistance Movement loyalists reclaim seats while several prominent opposition figures exit the legislative stage, election results show.
The NRM is projected to maintain a commanding majority with more than 360 lawmakers. In contrast, the National Unity Platform, the leading opposition party, saw its representation drop to 50 seats from 57 in the 2021 general election.
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The total number of opposition members of Parliament has fallen to 79, down from 106.
Analysts say the shift marks a change in the intellectual and generational makeup of the House. While seasoned opposition members like Medard Ssegona and Mathias Mpuuga were reelected, others failed to retain their seats.
John Ssimbwa, a former MP for Makindye East, said the public should not dismiss the newcomers as inexperienced.
“We are going to see a new face of Parliament,” Ssimbwa said, adding that remaining leaders like Joel Ssenyonyi would likely fill the void left by outgoing members.
The NRM front bench remains largely stable, bolstered by the return of several senior figures who lost their seats in 2021. Former Deputy Attorney General Fred Ruhindi, former Education Minister Crispus Kiyonga and former Trade Minister Amelia Kyambadde are among those returning to the House.
Sraje Nsanja, a political science lecturer at Kampala University, said he expects continued friction among opposition groups. He noted that many parties have not yet aligned with the NUP, which could lead to a lack of cohesion in the 12th Parliament.
“We shall not see cohesion among opposition groups,” Nsanja said. “We are likely to see that divide we witnessed in this 11th Parliament.”
While the NRM holds a clear majority, the party faces a challenge from 63 independent candidates. Many of these individuals are NRM-leaning members who ran independently after losing in the party primaries. NRM spokesperson Emmanuel Dombo said the independence issue continues to complicate party dynamics and the distribution of government resources.
The Democratic Party and the Uganda People’s Congress saw modest gains, with the DP increasing its count to six and the UPC to 11. Notably, the DP secured seats outside the Buganda region for the first time in 50 years.
