By Swift Reporter
The NRM Revolutionary Network (NRN) has criticized what it describes as a growing trend of recruiting rejected opposition politicians into government positions, warning that the practice risks weakening internal party discipline and demoralizing long-serving cadres within the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
In a press statement issued Monday, the youth-led platform said it “strongly disagrees” with what it termed political “fishing” the public celebration and strategic placement of opposition defectors who may not share the ideological foundations of the Movement.
While emphasizing that the NRM remains open to all Ugandans who genuinely subscribe to its ideology, the NRN cautioned against crossovers driven by political convenience rather than conviction. The group argued that prioritizing such recruits for appointments risks creating frustration among loyal party members who have served the Movement for decades.
“The NRM was not built on transactional politics,” the statement read. “It was built on sacrifice, discipline, and ideological clarity.” The network warned that rewarding political expediency over proven loyalty could weaken internal morale and strain party cohesion.
Beyond concerns over recruitment practices, the NRN also proposed a publicly broadcast debate for candidates seeking the Office of the Speaker in the upcoming 12th Parliament.
Describing the Speakership as one of the highest constitutional offices in the country, the group said a transparent debate would allow aspiring candidates to present their vision for a people-centered Parliament while enabling legislators and the public to assess their leadership credentials.
“Parliament belongs to the people,” the statement said, arguing that the selection of its leadership should reflect openness, intellectual rigor, and accountability.
The network further raised concerns about what it called the emerging norm of a two-term Speakership. While acknowledging the value of continuity, the NRN warned that prolonged occupancy of the office could transform it into a political springboard for higher executive ambitions, potentially creating parallel centers of power within the party.
“The Speakership is a constitutional stewardship role, not a preparatory stage for higher executive office,” the statement emphasized.
The NRN framed its remarks as an expression of loyalty rather than dissent, stressing its commitment to the long-term survival and ideological consistency of the NRM. The group said the Movement’s future depends not only on electoral victories but also on disciplined internal systems and leadership structures that promote unity.
The statement concluded with a pledge to uphold “patriotism above partisanship, systems over personalities, and institutional strength over short-term political maneuvering.”
The intervention by the youth platform comes at a time when internal party dynamics and parliamentary leadership debates are expected to shape Uganda’s political landscape ahead of the next legislative term.
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