UDA Leaders Visit Uganda to Learn from Museveni’s Ruling Party
A team of leaders from Kenya’s ruling party, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), recently flew to Uganda for a six-day official visit to meet with officials from Uganda’s National Resistance Movement (NRM). The visit, which was not widely publicized, was aimed at fostering political ties and exchanging governance strategies between the two ruling parties.
Warm Reception at Entebbe Airport
According to an official statement from the NRM, the UDA delegation arrived in Uganda on Tuesday, February 4. They were welcomed at Entebbe Airport by Major Awich Pollar, the NRM’s Director of External Affairs.
Speaking on the visit, Pollar emphasized that both parties have a lot to gain from each other as they are in charge of their respective governments.
“A high-powered delegation from Kenya’s ruling party, UDA, has arrived in Uganda for a six-day official visit to the National Resistance Movement (NRM). The two ruling parties will share experiences, best practices, and key lessons in governance,” the statement read.
Meeting with President Museveni
As part of their schedule, the UDA leaders are expected to meet Uganda’s President and NRM leader, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. During this meeting, Museveni is expected to share insights on the history, strategies, and resilience of the NRM, which has remained in power for nearly four decades.
“In the spirit of the East African Community and African unity, we believe that progressive political parties should work together and share knowledge. The visiting delegation is keen to understand how we have built and maintained our ideological strength over the years,” Pollar stated.
The NRM further revealed that both parties share common objectives, particularly in advancing the transformation of their nations and championing the broader vision of East Africa’s political federation.
UDA’s Interest in NRM’s Longevity
The visit did not come as a surprise, as UDA has previously shown admiration for NRM’s political longevity. This is not the first time Kenyan leaders from UDA have traveled to Uganda for political lessons.
In October 2024, a separate UDA delegation visited Uganda and expressed interest in learning how NRM has managed to stay in power for so long. At the time, Joash Maangi, who was part of the seven-member UDA delegation, acknowledged that Kenya’s political parties often change after every election cycle, unlike NRM, which has maintained stability.
“We admire that you have built a strong foundation, and we want to learn from your structure. In Kenya, political parties tend to evolve from one election to another,” Maangi remarked during the visit.
UDA’s Secretary General, Hassan Omar Hassan, also praised NRM’s leadership and resilience during the October meeting. He described the visit as a valuable learning experience for UDA, helping them understand how to build a sustainable political movement.
UDA’s Political Ambitions and Controversial Term Limit Proposal
The visit to Uganda comes at a time when discussions about extending the presidential term in Kenya have emerged.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, a staunch UDA member, recently proposed a motion in the Senate seeking to extend the presidential term from five to seven years.
However, the proposal sparked widespread backlash from Kenyans and several political leaders who dismissed it as an attempt to prolong President William Ruto’s time in office.
Interestingly, UDA has remained silent about the details of their latest trip to Uganda, raising speculation about the purpose of their visit. However, this is not the only international engagement UDA has undertaken recently. The party has been actively networking with other political movements across the world.
Just weeks ago, a delegation from UDA traveled to China for discussions with the Communist Party of China (CPC). This move signaled the party’s efforts to build international alliances and learn from dominant political parties in different regions.
While the objectives of UDA’s visit to Uganda remain general, the party’s growing interest in long-term political dominance raises questions about whether they are borrowing strategies to secure their future hold on power in Kenya.
Join Gen z and millennials TaskForce official 2025 WhatsApp Channel To Stay Updated On time the ongoing situation https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaWT5gSGufImU8R0DO30
