Some politicians struggle to make ends meet after losing their political offices. However, this has not been the case for Joyce Bagala Ntwatwa, the former Woman Member of Parliament for Mityana District, who served from 2021 to 2026.

Bagala has remained politically active, regularly commenting on national political developments. She has also ventured into civil society by founding the Roots Life Foundation, through which she promotes awareness and advocacy for sickle cell disease and supports patients affected by the condition. In addition, she has taken up farming as another way of sustaining her livelihood while continuing to serve humanity.

In a recent episode of The Grind with Patrick Kamara podcast, Bagala opened up about her split from the National Unity Platform (NUP), the current state of national politics, and her life outside Parliament.

She reflected on efforts to trace the party’s missing supporters during her tenure as Shadow Minister for Information, as well as the implications of the continued incarceration of opposition figures Dr Kizza Besigye and Erias Lukwago. She also discussed how her close relationship with former Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Mathias Mpuuga, created tensions within the party, ultimately contributing to consequences for both the party and her political career.

Despite these challenges, Bagala says she has no regrets about the decisions she made. She is now charting her own political path as an independent politician.