Uganda is preparing to swear in its 12th Parliament following the Jan. 15, 2026, general elections, a vote that has reshaped the country’s political landscape by strengthening the ruling party while sweeping several well-known opposition figures out of the House. The new Parliament reflects both continuity and change, with the National Resistance Movement tightening its grip on power even as a wave of new legislators replaces veteran voices who shaped debate for more than a decade.
Results show how NRM has maintained a commanding majority in the 529-member Parliament, winning way over the two-third majority seats nationwide. The party performed strongly in rural constituencies across northern, eastern and western Uganda, reinforcing its long-standing organisational advantage outside major towns. Opposition parties held on to pockets of support, mainly in central and urban areas, but their overall numbers declined compared with the previous Parliament.
Among the most striking outcomes of the elections was the loss of several senior opposition lawmakers who had become household names through years of sharp debate and oversight. Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, the outspoken Kira Municipality MP who served in Parliament for 15 years, lost his seat to National Unity Platform candidate George Musisi. Ssemujju, a former journalist, was known for his hard-hitting scrutiny of public spending and executive power, and his defeat marked the end of one of the loudest voices in the House.
In western Uganda, Francis Mwijukye, who had represented Buhweju County for three terms, was voted out after 15 years in Parliament. His loss was part of a broader trend in the Ankole sub-region, where several incumbents fell to new challengers, signaling voter fatigue with long-serving leaders.
The shake-up extended to Buganda region, where some of the opposition’s most influential figures failed to retain their seats. Mathias Mpuuga, the former Leader of the Opposition and MP for Nyendo-Mukungwe, lost his constituency after years at the center of national political debate. Medard Lubega Sseggona, the respected Busiro East MP known for his legal arguments on constitutional matters, was also voted out. Abdul Katuntu, another senior lawmaker who built a reputation through committee work and public accountability debates, similarly failed to return to Parliament.
The Forum for Democratic Change suffered one of its heaviest blows with the loss of party president Patrick Amuriat Oboi. Amuriat, a former presidential candidate, failed to win a parliamentary seat in eastern Uganda, further weakening a party whose numbers in the House have steadily declined over recent elections. The People’s Front for Freedom presented very few MPs as most of their key figures lost the election.
While many veteran opposition lawmakers exited, the elections also produced notable returns and comebacks. Norbert Mao, president of the Democratic Party and current minister of justice and constitutional affairs, won the Laroo-Pece Division seat in Gulu City. Mao, who previously served as an MP and district chairperson, returns to the House with decades of political experience and is expected to play an influential role in legal and constitutional debates, even as he sits on the government side.
Gerald Karuhanga also made a comeback, winning the Ntungamo Municipality seat as an independent candidate. Karuhanga, who previously represented the area, returned on the strength of local support, underscoring the continued appeal of independent candidates in some parts of the country. Independents emerged as an important bloc in the new Parliament, winning dozens of seats and potentially positioning themselves as swing voices on key issues.
The overall parliamentary map shows clear regional patterns. The NRM dominates much of the countryside, while the NUP retains strength in Greater Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono and parts of central Uganda. The Uganda People’s Congress held onto a small number of seats in districts such as Amolatar, and several constituencies, including Butambala and Namutumba, elected only independents, highlighting the influence of local dynamics over party labels.
More than 100 incumbents are not returning to Parliament, including several cabinet ministers, pointing to a significant generational shift. Many first-time legislators, some of them young and entering politics for the first time, will take their seats when the new Parliament convenes. Analysts say this turnover reflects growing voter demands for accountability and visible service delivery, even as overall power remains concentrated with the ruling party.
With its large majority, the NRM is expected to push forward its legislative agenda with relative ease, continuing policies aligned with President Yoweri Museveni’s government. However, observers note that a smaller but vocal opposition, combined with an active group of independents, could still shape debate, particularly on issues affecting urban voters, public finance and governance.
As lawmakers prepare for the swearing-in ceremony, attention is turning to the election of parliamentary leadership, committee assignments and the tone of debate in the new House. The departure of experienced figures such as Ssemujju, Katuntu, Sseggona and Mpuuga leaves a gap in institutional memory, while the arrival of new MPs presents both an opportunity and a test for Uganda’s legislature.
The true measure of the 12th Parliament, analysts say, will lie not only in its numbers but in how its members balance party loyalty, constituency demands and national responsibility in a period of political transition and economic pressure.
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