Defections: Bobi Wine loses more NUP youth leaders to Museveni’s NRM

A number of National Unity Platform (NUP) leaders from the West Nile districts of Arua, Madi-Okollo, Maracha, Koboko, Yumbe and Arua City have quit the party to join long-serving president Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni’s National Resistance Movement.

The leaders, about 80 in number, publicly denounced Bobi Wine and his NUP, declaring support for Museveni and NRM.

NRM mobilizer Geoffrey Akena received the former NUP youth leaders at an event in Arua City’s Oluko Ward.

Akena warned youths against engaging in plots to sink Uganda, further claiming that Bobi Wine had no agenda for the country.

Some of the NUP leaders who defected admitted they were convinced they would benefit from Museveni’s youth projects.

President Museveni has severally argued that the youths had been misled to join Bobi Wine, but also blamed government officials and NRM leaders for failing to help young people benefit from government projects.

In recent weeks, a number of NUP members have crossed to NRM.

For example, on December 22, a group of NUP youths stormed party offices for the Lango sub region in Lira, and burnt t-shirts before meeting NRM vice chairperson for northern Uganda Jacob Oulanyah who welcomed them to the ruling party.