A long-time NRM loyalist and LC5 Chairperson of Buvuma District, Adrian Ddungu has officially aligned himself with the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Ddungu, who has served under the NRM since his entry into politics, is reportedly eyeing the Buvuma County parliamentary seat, currently held by Robert Migadde Ndugwa, an NRM stalwart.
Political observers suggest that Ddungu’s decision to switch camps is a strategic attempt to improve his chances in a contest where the NRM ticket remains tightly controlled by the incumbent.
Sources close to the district chairperson reveal that while Ddungu has publicly aligned himself with NUP, his commitment to the opposition party remains uncertain.
Insiders say he may be using the NUP platform to gather mass support while simultaneously preparing to participate in the NRM primaries. If that route fails, he is said to be open to contesting as an independent.
His political maneuver has gained additional weight through a newly announced alliance with Buvuma District Woman MP Suzan Nakaziba, who is affiliated with NUP.
The two plan to campaign jointly across the islands in an effort to consolidate opposition support and unsettle the NRM’s political grip in the region.
However, Ddungu’s move has been met with skepticism from both camps. Within NUP, there are growing concerns that his intentions may be more opportunistic than ideological.
Some party insiders warn that he may follow in the footsteps of other defectors who crossed over to the opposition only temporarily—such as in Kyotera District, where NRM-leaning candidates worked with opposition forces to win elections only to return to the ruling party once in office.
The political strategy of leveraging opposition support to gain office while maintaining ties to the NRM is not new in Ugandan politics.
But as the country inches closer to the 2026 elections, such moves could test the patience and trust of grassroots supporters, many of whom are calling for ideological clarity and loyalty over political expediency.
As the race for Buvuma County heats up, the question remains: is Adrian Ddungu’s move a genuine defection, a calculated gamble, or a familiar act in Uganda’s ever-shifting political theatre?
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