Brian Asingwire, the National Unity Platform (NUP) chairperson for Kagadi District, has defected to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Mr Asingwire announced his defection on Saturday afternoon at Muhorro BCS Primary School playgrounds in Muhorro Town Council during a campaign rally addressed by President Yoweri Museveni.
Immediately after crossing to the NRM, Mr Asingwire, who had been contesting for the Buyaga East County parliamentary seat, announced his withdrawal from the race. He has served as NUP chairperson for Kagadi District for six years.
Addressing the gathering, Mr Asingwire said his decision to defect was personal, arguing that remaining in NUP would not benefit him and could jeopardise his future.
He said he had been engaged by senior NRM leaders who persuaded him to abandon NUP and join the ruling party.
Speaker of Parliament Ms Annet Anita Among, who officially received Mr Asingwire into the NRM, welcomed the defection, saying the ruling party remains the only political organisation with a clear vision and a broad-based, inclusive agenda.
Mr Asingwire’s withdrawal leaves two contenders in the Buyaga East County parliamentary race: the incumbent, Mr Eric Musana Achaali, who is running as an independent after losing in the NRM primaries, and Mr Stephen Twesige, the NRM flag bearer.
The defection comes just days after Mr Allan Clifford Tugume, a parliamentary candidate for Bugahya County in Hoima District, also crossed from NUP to the NRM and withdrew from the race.
Mr Tugume announced his decision on Thursday, saying he had defected to the NRM and would no longer contest for the Bugahya County parliamentary seat.
Like Mr Asingwire, Mr Tugume said he had made a personal decision after concluding that remaining in NUP would put his future at risk. He also called for an urgent meeting with President Museveni to discuss the issues that had initially driven him into the opposition.
