By Aggrey Baba
At a press briefing at their Katonga Road offices on Monday, the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) has expressed a strong desire for National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu to spearhead a united opposition in the upcoming 2026 presidential elections.
While no formal endorsement has been issued, PFF officials, led by President Erias Lukwago and Secretary General, Ssemuju Nganda, indicated their readiness to support a single opposition candidate capable of challenging the ruling establishment.
Lukwago highlighted the increasingly militarized and manipulated political environment leading up to the 2026 elections, citing concerns over abductions of citizens and political candidates, heavy military presence, and the near-total control of civic institutions like the Judiciary and Parliament, by the NRM (Or Museveni’s family rule as they put it). In this context, the party emphasized that opposition unity is crucial, warning that fragmentation would only play into the hands of the NRM.
Previously, PFF had entered into a coalition with the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), led by Maj. Gen. Gregory Mugisha Muntu. However, with NUP now actively engaging in the presidential race, having submitted Kyagulanyi’s credentials to the Electoral Commission (EC), the dynamics within the opposition are shifting. This development raises the question of whether a single candidate will emerge from these discussions or if multiple candidates will contest the presidency under a unified opposition banner.
The PFF has reiterated its commitment to supporting a candidate who can unite the opposition and effectively challenge the Museveni regime. When the lion grows old, the cubs must learn to roar, a proverb goes, reflecting PFF’s belief that a strong, unified opposition is essential for meaningful change in Uganda’s political landscape.
Observers suggest that the coming weeks will be pivotal in determining whether the opposition can consolidate around a single candidate and present a formidable challenge to the incumbent government in the 2026 elections.
