The president of the Democratic Front (DF), Mathias Mpuuga, has criticized Yusuf Nsibambi’s recent defection to the ruling party calling it, “personal and unfit for change.”

Nsibambi, who also served as the Opposition Chief Whip in Parliament, on the National Unity Platform (NUP) Party officially joined NRM on Wednesday, February 18th, 2026, citing the need to advance his political career and improve service delivery to the public.

Speaking at the DF headquarters in Kampala on Thursday, February 19th, 2026, Mpuuga described Nsibambi as a sharp and experienced politician whose defection was a calculated decision.

However, he argued that joining the ruling party may help achieve personal goals but cannot solve the broader issues the opposition seeks to address.

“Nsibambi is a lawyer who has spent considerable time in parliament, and whatever he did was calculated in wisdom. We wish him well, but joining NRM does not solve the leadership challenges facing the country,” Mpuuga said.

On the other hand, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party disowned Nsibambi, stating that Nsibambi’s exit was not a surprise and does not in any way weaken the party because FDC is not built on individuals but rather ideology and structures.

According to Patrick Oboi Amuriat, the FDC party president, the party is consulting to fill the position of chief whip in parliament, which has been held by Nsibambi as early as possible.

Meanwhile Nsibambi has since accused opposition of lacking direction, describing the opposition as disorganized, ineffective, and lacking a clear path forward. He also revealed that for years, opposition parties failed to sit together and harmonize their positions on key national issues, unlike his new party, the NRM.