Mityana District Woman Member of Parliament Joyce Bagala has come out to defend her track record and reaffirming her long-standing commitment to the pro-democracy struggle in Uganda.
Appearing on NTV Uganda’s #MorningAtNTV, Bagala addressed growing whispers of discontent within her party and potential challengers eyeing her parliamentary seat in the coming 2026 general elections.
“It’s everyone’s right to compete with anyone and they are welcome to join the race,” Bagala said.
“But what they need to do is identify where I have failed in representing my party in Parliament and in the constituency.”
She didn’t stop there. “It’s beautiful to compete with someone as strong as myself,” she added, sending a clear signal to political opponents that she’s ready for battle.
In what seemed to be a thinly veiled jab at internal party critics, Bagala challenged the idea that physical presence at party headquarters equates to political effectiveness.
“Being present at the party headquarters is fine,” she noted, “but I don’t believe that alone qualifies as being active in the party.”
Bagala doubled down emphasizing that real political engagement involves being among the people, amplifying the message of liberation and speaking out against dictatorship an area where she believes her record stands tall.
Perhaps the most profound part of her remarks was her reminder that her commitment to Uganda’s democratic journey began long before she ever stepped into Parliament.
“This is my first time in Parliament, but my involvement in the struggle began long before I became an MP,” she said, invoking the names of opposition loyalists like Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye to highlight her political lineage and ideological grounding.
The tone of Bagala’s comments suggests the opposition ranks may be bracing for internal primaries as the National Unity Platform (NUP) and other opposition parties gear up for a high-stakes 2026 election.
“Competition is healthy especially when it pushes us to be better. But let that competition be based on substance not sensationalism,” she stated.
Joyce Bagala is not your typical first-time MP. A former broadcast journalist turned politician and a member of NUP, Bagala has become one of the most recognizable voices in Parliament especially on issues of human rights, governance and electoral justice.
She represents Mityana District and has been vocal in defending political prisoners, women’s rights and electoral reforms.
Supporters praised Bagala’s clarity, calling her a true daughter of the struggle, while critics questioned whether her statements may widen rifts within the opposition.
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