Nsibambi Says Pre-Planned Museveni–Opposition Talks Included NUP

Outgoing Mawokota South Member of Parliament Yusuf Nsibambi has revealed that the recent meeting between President Yoweri Museveni and several opposition figures at State House was not impromptu, but the result of a carefully coordinated process that involved the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) and major opposition parties, including the National Unity Platform (NUP).

The State House meeting triggered widespread public debate and social media speculation, with many Ugandans questioning the motives and loyalties of opposition politicians who attended the talks with President Museveni.

According to Nsibambi, the engagement was the culmination of earlier consultations held just days before the January 15 general elections, under the facilitation of the IRCU.

He disclosed that a key coordination meeting took place on January 7, bringing together opposition representatives and leaders of Uganda’s major religious institutions. This meeting, Nsibambi said, laid the foundation for the later dialogue with President Museveni.

A major revelation from Nsibambi was the involvement of NUP—Uganda’s largest opposition party—in the preparatory process, despite the absence of its leaders in the official photographs released after the State House meeting.

“The NUP was represented by its deputy president for the northern region, Dr. Lina Zedriga, together with three party lawyers. They spoke for more than an hour,” Nsibambi said.

He insisted that NUP was fully aware of, and participated in, the process that led to the Museveni–opposition interface.

“They cannot deny that they had no knowledge about the meeting. They were in that meeting. That meeting gave rise to our meeting with President Museveni at State House,” Nsibambi stated.

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Nsibambi further revealed that only the Democratic Party (DP) and the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) declined to take part in the IRCU-led engagement.

He cited a briefing document from the January 7 meeting, which he said was signed by top religious leaders, including Archbishop of the Church of Uganda Dr. Stephen Kazimba Mugalu, Mufti of Uganda Sheikh Shaban Ramadan Mubajje, Bishop Anthony Ziwa of Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese, Metropolitan Mzee of the Orthodox Church in Uganda, Pastor Joseph Sserwada of the Born-Again faith, Bishop Joshua Lwere of the Pentecostal movement, and IRCU Secretary General Joshua Kitakure.

Nsibambi also claimed that the talks with President Museveni have already yielded commitments, which he said would soon become visible to the public.

“The President has agreed to hold dialogue with his opponents. He has also agreed to release political prisoners. I have a list of 10 prisoners who are going to be released,” Nsibambi said.

As of publication, NUP had not issued an official statement either confirming or disputing Nsibambi’s claims, leaving the party’s position on its alleged involvement in the process unclear.

The revelations are likely to intensify debate within opposition circles as Uganda navigates the post-election political landscape.