Africa-Press – Uganda. A prominent Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) mobilizer in Bushenyi district, Paul Kahigi Turyamureba, has officially joined the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), announcing his bid to contest for the Igara West parliamentary seat left vacant by outgoing MP Gaffa Mbwatekamwa.
Turyamureba, who has contested multiple times under the FDC banner for both Member of Parliament and Bushenyi LCV chairperson, said he was forced to reconsider his political allegiance after repeated defeats and dwindling support for the opposition party in the region.
“If you can hear what is happening there [in FDC], I knew it was very difficult now to convince people here to follow you in FDC,” he said. “When I considered service delivery, FDC has no services to offer to people.”
The veteran opposition figure, once one of the most vocal FDC mobilizers in Bushenyi, acknowledged that the political tide in Igara West favours the ruling party.
“I thought that since many of my voters are followers of NRM, to serve them better, you have to move with them in the party where they belong. We all know services are provided by the government in power—not the FDC,” he added.
The Igara West seat became vacant after incumbent MP Mbwatekamwa Gaffa declared his interest in the Mbarara City mayoral race. His departure has opened the field to a fresh round of political contenders.
Among those eyeing the constituency are Cohen Kyampene, Tugume Boniface, Kyasimire Macklinedeliveryman, and Turyamureba himself.
“There is a very big gap in the delivery of services in Igara West constituency. Even before he [Mbwatekamwa] moved to contest for mayor, he had already abandoned the constituency. I am here now to fill that vacuum,” Turyamureba told reporters.
Turyamureba, now running on the NRM ticket, said he is confident of winning the party primaries. However, he did not rule out contesting as an independent if the primaries do not go in his favour.
“I have seen cases where the party ends up supporting an independent candidate. Look at Kisoro, for example—where the district NRM chairperson backed an independent and they won. So we will see. But I am optimistic of a win.”
Turyamureba’s defection is expected to shake up the political landscape in Bushenyi, especially given his long-standing grassroots influence under the FDC.
His move reflects a growing trend among opposition politicians shifting allegiance to the ruling party in pursuit of electoral viability and access to government resources.
The date for the Igara West NRM primaries is yet to be announced, but campaigns are already heating up, with each candidate jostling to fill the gap left by one of the area’s most controversial MPs.
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