Bugweri County Member of Parliament (MP) Abdu Katuntu has called on independent MPs to collaborate with the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), stating that working with the sitting government is the most effective way to serve their constituents and safeguard their political interests. Speaking on a local radio station on Saturday, September 28, 2024, Katuntu emphasized the importance of cooperation between independents and the government.
Katuntu, a former member of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), ran as an independent in the 2021 elections after breaking ties with his party. He contested against the official FDC candidate, Julius Galisonga, winning by a margin of 17,813 votes to 13,141. Reflecting on his decision to run independently, Katuntu said that working with the NRM has been a pragmatic choice for him as an independent MP.
In Uganda’s 11th Parliament, 73 out of the 557 MPs are independents. Katuntu suggested that these independent MPs face a choice: either to engage with the government constructively or to oppose it. He stated that while some independents have chosen to stand in opposition to the NRM, he has decided to engage with the ruling party. “You either talk to them or talk at them,” he explained, noting that he has opted for dialogue.
Despite his cooperation with the NRM, Katuntu clarified that he has not formally joined the party. He denied rumors that he, along with Bardege-Layibi Division MP Martin Ojara Mapenduzi, had officially left the opposition to become members of the NRM. Katuntu said he has been in discussions with the government on various issues and occasionally supports their positions in parliamentary votes, but stressed that this does not make him a member of the NRM.
According to Katuntu, the law prohibits MPs from officially switching parties until the last six months of their term, as doing so could result in losing their parliamentary seat. “Even the law bars it, and you cannot officially join the other party before six months to the end of the term,” he explained, adding that his cooperation with the NRM is based on mutual understanding rather than formal membership.
Katuntu acknowledged the NRM’s role in supporting his work in Parliament, particularly in his capacity as chairperson of the Committee on Rules and Discipline, a position he was appointed to with NRM support. Additionally, his role as a member of the Pan African Parliament was also facilitated by the ruling party’s goodwill. He expressed gratitude for these opportunities, likening his situation to that of a “beautiful girl in the village” who receives attention from all sides. “You cannot apologize because you are beautiful,” he said humorously.
Katuntu’s remarks have sparked conversation among political observers, as the relationship between independent MPs and the ruling NRM remains a sensitive topic in Uganda’s political landscape.
