KAMPALA, Uganda — More than 30 independent Members of Parliament-elect have initiated steps toward formal cooperation with the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), in a development likely to shape the composition and dynamics of the 12th Parliament.
The legislators met on Monday at the NRM headquarters in Kampala, where they expressed interest in signing Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with the party. The proposed agreements are aimed at fostering structured collaboration on legislative business and national priorities.
The engagement was led by Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among, who also serves as the NRM Second National Vice Chairperson (Female).
In her remarks, she welcomed the legislators’ willingness to work with the ruling party and underscored the importance of cooperation in advancing national development.
According to Among, the arrangement is intended to provide a framework through which independent MPs can participate more effectively in parliamentary processes, including committee work and leadership structures, while maintaining a coordinated approach to key national issues.
The move follows earlier expressions of support from smaller groups of independent legislators and signals a shift toward more formalised engagement with the NRM. Sources indicate that the MOUs are expected to be discussed further and potentially finalised during a planned retreat in April.
With more than 70 independent MPs elected to the incoming Parliament, the decision by a significant number to pursue cooperation with the ruling party could reinforce NRM’s legislative strength and influence.
Analysts note that such arrangements, while not uncommon, reflect the practical considerations of parliamentary organisation and governance, particularly in a political landscape where independents constitute a sizeable bloc.
