UgandaToday: Buyaga East Defector Brian Asingwire’s Dramatic Shift: Bizarre Moment, Anita Among Translates Runyoro For Museveni
Kagadi, Uganda — In a political twist that has raised eyebrows and generated commentary across social and traditional media, Brian Asingwire, the National Unity Platform (NUP) parliamentary flag bearer for Buyaga East Constituency, publicly announced his withdrawal from the race and joined the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) at a high-profile campaign rally in Kagadi District on Saturday, December 13, 2025.
Addressing a large crowd at Muhorro Playground, Asingwire, who had served as both district chairperson and NUP parliamentary flag bearer for a total of six years, declared that he had “seen the light” of the NRM and would no longer contest against the ruling party candidate. His defection was formally announced on the podium by the Speaker of Parliament and NRM Second National Vice-Chairperson, Anita Annet Among, who introduced Asingwire to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the gathered supporters.
What quickly became a focal point of conversation — and a source of social media commentary — was the role played by the ambassador of interpretation on stage. Asingwire delivered his remarks primarily in Runyoro, his native dialect, compelling Among, who is not from the Bunyoro sub-region, to interpret the speech into English for the benefit of President Museveni and the predominantly English-speaking audience. Critics and observers have questioned the optics of the situation, noting that Museveni, who understands Runyoro reasonably well, appeared awkwardly bemused at the conclusion of the interpretation, prompting commentary on whether the translation was necessary or merely theatrical. — Observers on social media
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After the interpretation, President Museveni stepped forward with a warm embrace and welcoming remarks, addressing Asingwire as “my son” in a symbolic gesture of political fellowship. “I welcome my son Asingwire Brian, the Buyaga East Constituency NUP flag bearer who has officially stepped down from the race and crossed to the National Resistance Movement,” Museveni said, invoking a biblical analogy to underscore his message of unity. He quoted Matthew Chapter 5, Verse 15 — “Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.”
The scene drew reactions from both supporters and critics. NRM loyalists heralded the defection as a sign of growing confidence in the ruling party’s leadership and an indicator of its ability to attract cross-party support ahead of the 2026 general polls. According to political strategists, Asingwire’s withdrawal and support for the NRM candidate — Stephen Twesige — strengthens the ruling party’s position in the constituency and could influence undecided voters as campaigning intensifies.
Opposition voices and political commentators criticised the event, describing the translation moment as a theatrical spectacle that raised questions about the dynamics between political elites, linguistic translation, and public perception. Some argue that the decision to insert a translated relay of the speech — particularly by a non-native speaker — dulled the message’s authenticity and opened the event to ridicule.
Asingwire’s realignment with the NRM — and the attention garnered by the translation incident — highlight the intersection of political theatre, linguistic identity, and electoral strategy in Uganda’s increasingly heated 2026 campaign season. Analysts say that unity messaging and cross-party defections will likely continue to shape public discourse as voters prepare for the polls.
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