Mawokota South Member of Parliament Yusuf Nsibambi this week led a delegation of opposition political figures to meet President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at State House, Entebbe, in a move that has stirred both surprise and cautious optimism across Uganda’s political landscape.
The meeting comes in the aftermath of the highly contested January 2026 general elections, which left the country politically polarized, and focused on national stability, reconciliation and easing tensions that have persisted since the polls.
According to Mr Nsibambi, the engagement was intended to promote dialogue between the government and opposition actors following a charged electoral period.
“We discussed the need to lower political temperatures and create space for dialogue,” Mr Nsibambi said, adding that the delegation raised concerns around post-election grievances.
“The issue of political prisoners was first on the agenda, and we asked the President to consider granting them a pardon,” he said.
State House has not issued a detailed statement on the meeting, but President Museveni and the delegation are understood to have exchanged views on fostering political calm and maintaining a peaceful national environment.
Political analysts say such engagements point to a calculated approach by the ruling party to engage moderate opposition figures, particularly at moments of heightened political tension.
For President Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, managing opposition discontent especially following controversies surrounding the 2026 elections remains central to maintaining political stability.
Mr Nsibambi defended his decision to meet the President, dismissing criticism from sections of the opposition who view such engagements as legitimising the ruling party.
“No one sent me to the opposition. I am an elected leader, and I will engage with whoever I deem necessary for the good of my constituents and the country,” he said.
Other opposition politicians who attended the meeting included Okot Bitek, the MP for Kioga County (FDC); Robert Centenary, a former MP for Kasese Municipality and Deputy President of FDC for Western Uganda; Moses Kabusu, the MP for Kyamuswa County (People’s Front for Freedom); Roland Ndyomugyenyi, the MP for Rukiga County; and Latif Ssebagala, a former MP for Kawempe North.
Also present were Mukono South MP Fred Kayondo of the Democratic Party (DP) and Richard Lumu, the MP for Mityana South (DP), among others.
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Mr Nsibambi, a member of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), has represented Mawokota South in Mpigi District and previously served as the party’s chief whip in Parliament, a position he assumed in 2023 following a leadership reshuffle that saw him replace veteran MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda.
However, Mr Nsibambi lost his parliamentary seat in the 2026 general elections, a development that has further shaped perceptions of his current political engagements.
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