Outgoing Mawokota South MP Yusuf Nsibambi of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has defended the party’s recent meeting with President Yoweri Museveni, saying the engagement was intended to open space for national dialogue after the elections.
Nsibambi, who is also the FDC Parliamentary Whip, said a group of 17 opposition politicians met President Museveni at State House Entebbe on Thursday to discuss broader national issues rather than personal or political gains.
The meeting, he explained, was about addressing challenges facing the country, including unemployment, tribal divisions and the continued arrest and imprisonment of opposition politicians and their supporters.
“The country needs honest dialogue on the national question,” Nsibambi said, noting that political tension after elections often leaves important issues unresolved.
Nsibambi revealed that he has held several private engagements with President Museveni over the years, noting that he met the President twice this year and on three occasions last year.
His comments followed public criticism after photos of the meeting circulated on social media, with some questioning why opposition figures were engaging the President. Nsibambi said such dialogue should not be misunderstood as betrayal, adding that engagement is necessary for stability and progress.
Speaking about the election outcome, Nsibambi stated that President Museveni and the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) had effectively won, arguing that the political environment made it extremely difficult for any opposition candidate to defeat the long-serving leader.
He attributed low voter turnout to widespread loss of faith in the electoral process and poverty, saying some voters were easily influenced by small handouts. He also claimed opposition disunity weakened the challenge to the ruling party, citing competition between FDC and the National Unity Platform (NUP) candidates in several areas.
Nsibambi further revealed that the meeting at State House was not an isolated event, disclosing that he has held several private engagements with President Museveni over the past two years as part of ongoing efforts to push for dialogue.
According to Nsibambi, engagement with the President remains one of the avenues through which the opposition can raise critical national concerns and seek political reforms beyond the election cycle.
