By Ben Musanje
The Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) has announced a major leadership reshuffle, appointing veteran opposition politician Kassiano Wadri as the party’s new National Coordinator and Hoima West Member of Parliament Ismail Kasule as the new party spokesperson.
The changes were announced by ANT Secretary General Alice Alaso during the party’s first press conference held at its new headquarters in Lungujja, Rubaga Division, Kampala.
Wadri takes over the National Coordinator position previously held by ANT founder Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Gregory Mugisha Muntu, while Kasule replaces former Ntungamo Municipality MP Gerald Karuhanga as the party’s official spokesperson.
Alaso said the appointments were part of ANT’s efforts to strengthen its structures, expand grassroots mobilization and advance its political agenda across the country.
She congratulated Wadri upon his appointment, saying the new National Coordinator had been entrusted with the responsibility of leading the party’s efforts to transform Uganda’s political culture.
Wadri is one of Uganda’s most experienced opposition politicians, having spent nearly two decades in Parliament and serving in several influential leadership positions.
Before joining ANT, Wadri represented Terego County for three consecutive terms before making history in 2018 when he won the Arua Municipality parliamentary by-election as an independent candidate while he was in detention.
The election attracted national attention after Wadri defeated several candidates in a highly competitive race following the death of former Arua Municipality MP Ibrahim Abiriga.
A trained social worker, Wadri holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and Social Administration and a Master’s degree in Social Sector Planning and Management from Makerere University. He also holds an Associate Degree in Democracy and Social Development from Uganda Martyrs University.
During his parliamentary career, Wadri served as Opposition Chief Whip and chaired the Committee on Government Assurances, among other responsibilities.
He joined ANT in July 2020 after leaving the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), citing alignment with ANT’s values and political direction.
Wadri had been involved in the early formation of ANT alongside Muntu after a split within FDC over differences in political strategy.
Muntu and his supporters left FDC in 2018 following disagreements over the party’s direction, particularly between those supporting a more confrontational approach toward President Yoweri Museveni’s government and those advocating for institutional reforms and grassroots organization.
The departure led to the formation of ANT, which was officially registered by the Electoral Commission in 2019.
Since its formation, ANT has focused on building grassroots structures, promoting issue-based politics and advocating for accountable governance.
Wadri’s appointment comes as the party seeks to rebuild and expand following the 2026 General Elections, with the leadership change expected to inject new energy into its national mobilization efforts.
Meanwhile, Kasule, the newly appointed party spokesperson, joins the ANT leadership team after securing the Hoima West parliamentary seat in the 2026 General Elections.
Kasule won the constituency with 9,102 votes, defeating Donald Bategeka who polled 5,855 votes, Dr Joseph Ruyonga of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) who received 3,373 votes, Ronald Kato Rwahwiire with 1,936 votes and John Baptism Byaruhanga who got 67 votes.
His victory marked a political turnaround after a closely contested race in the 2021 elections, where he narrowly lost the same seat to Dr Ruyonga.
In the 2021 elections, Ruyonga emerged winner with 6,396 votes against Kasule’s 6,212 votes, giving him a margin of 184 votes.
Kasule challenged the results and sought a vote recount, arguing that several of his votes had been wrongly invalidated. He pointed out that 517 votes had been declared invalid and argued that a recount would establish the true outcome of the election.
However, Hoima Chief Magistrate’s Court dismissed his application, ruling that he had not provided sufficient evidence to prove numerical errors in the declaration of results.
The court said the petition lacked specific details to demonstrate how the alleged mistakes affected the final outcome.
Following the ruling, Kasule expressed dissatisfaction and indicated that he would pursue further legal action, while Ruyonga welcomed the decision and urged Kasule to accept the outcome.
Kasule’s eventual victory in 2026 strengthened his position within ANT and paved the way for his appointment as the party’s communication face.
The leadership changes also mark a new chapter for ANT under Wadri’s coordination, as the party attempts to consolidate its national presence and position itself as a strong alternative political force.
Muntu, who founded ANT after leaving FDC, has remained a central figure in shaping the party’s philosophy centered on institutional reform, grassroots organization and issue-based politics.
The former army commander’s decision to step aside as National Coordinator comes as ANT transitions into a new phase of leadership while maintaining its original vision of building a different political culture in Uganda.
With Wadri now leading party coordination and Kasule taking charge of communication, ANT says it is positioning itself for stronger grassroots engagement and a renewed push for democratic accountability ahead of future political contests.
