Former National Unity Platform (NUP) Member of Parliament Gorreth Namugga has said that meeting President Yoweri Museveni should not be viewed as a crime or betrayal, urging Ugandans to change what she described as a growing misconception around engagement with the head of state.
Namugga, who was recently defeated in the general elections by a candidate from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), made the remarks during a radio talk show on Radio 4 FM.
The station is owned by Hon. Balaam Barugahara, the State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs in President Museveni’s government.
“It is wrong for people to think that meeting Mr. Museveni is bad or an abomination,” Namugga said during the program. “He is the one with a mandate to run the country. Therefore, meeting him as a leader or even as a citizen is not a crime.”
Her comments come amid heightened political debate following reports of the President meeting with several opposition figures, including Yusuf Nsibambi and others who have recently been trending in Ugandan media. The meetings have sparked mixed reactions, particularly among opposition supporters who view such engagements with suspicion.
Namugga did not indicate whether she personally plans to seek an audience with the President but emphasized that dialogue should not be politicized.
“As leaders, we must put the country first,” she said, adding that engagement across political divides can be part of national development and unity.
Her statements have drawn varied reactions, especially within NUP circles, where some supporters argue that close association with the ruling party undermines opposition efforts. Others, however, have defended her stance, saying political engagement does not necessarily equate to defection or ideological compromise.
The former legislator’s defeat in the recently concluded elections marked a significant political shift in her constituency, where the NRM regained the seat after a closely contested race.
Political analysts say the debate highlights ongoing tensions within Uganda’s opposition politics, particularly regarding how leaders should relate with the long-serving President and the ruling establishment.
