By Ahmed Kateregga Musaazi
MASAKA-UGANDA/NEWSDAY: Dr. Kizza Beisgye has launched his People’s Font for Transition in order to rebrand himself for 2026 elections.
The platform launched last week covers a cross section of opposition politicians. The past fronts we had in Uganda were Front for National Salvation (FRONASA) a rebel group under now President Yoweri Museveni that fought Idi Amin regime, based in Tanzania, Uganda National Liberation Front (UNLF) under Yusuf Lule that succeeded Idi Amin regime but fell in less than two years over infighting, and Uganda National Rescue Front (UNRF) under Moses Ali that fought Obote ll and was integrated in NRM/NRA.
However, other than Party President of FDC, Amuriat Oboy, President General of a one man’s show, Conservative Party, John Ken Lukyamuzi, and President or Patron of Social Democratic Party, Michael Mabikke, no other party President was around.
Justice Forum’s Asumani Basaliwa is still loyal to President of National Unity Party, Bobi Wine. Other party president like Bobi Wine of NUP, Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu of ANT , are still reluctant to join.It is the same with President General of Democratic Party, Norbert Mao, and President of UPC James Akena who is in an alliance with NRM Government in Lango sub region.
Instead, Besigye has recruited Sam Lubega Mukaku, who claims to represent DP Block (which in the past covered DP under Mao, SDP under Mike Mabikke, PDP under Dr. Abed Bwanika and Truth and Justice under Erias Lukwago) and Olara Otunnu, a former leader of a breakaway faction in Uganda People’s Congress.
While on a surface, PFT is seen as a front to destroy or at least neutralize NUP under Bobi Wine, which should field an Opposition candidate for 2026 elections other than Bobi, targeting Buganda, Bobi’s stronghold and recruiting NUP rejects, it may not be a positive development.
To those who are close to Besigye, this is not a new development. After 2011 elections and a failure to topple government during the Arab spring uprising under walk to work, Besigye hosted leading Opposition leaders at his home at Kasangati and said that he was not going to stand for presidency in 2016 unless constitutional and electoral reforms had been implemented.
In a full day meeting where he bought and roasted his guests with grasshoppers, Besigye said that he was going to concentrate on civil disobedience, riots and other means to topple the government.Those in the audience told him, that some of them could win parliamentary positions, and many of them were already MPs and could continue pressing for reforms from parliament, and that elections are a good plebiscite to test the ground.
As a compromise position, Besigye agreed with them and endorsed Al Haji Ssaalongo Erias Lukwago as the presidential candidate for 2016. Lukwago warmly welcome tactic as he had already been impeached as a Lord Mayor and lost a whole term outside City Hall.
The MPs and other leaders that were in the meeting did not take Lukwago seriously. Instead they shopped for Uganda’s then Prime Minister and Secretary General of the ruling National Resistance Movement, John Patrick Amama Mbabazi. That was a big fish, in their views , that would break NRM and government. They were supported by some Western donors.
However, on learning about the deal, Besigye rejected to support Mbabazi in London talks brokered by former UN Secretary General Koffi Annan, and with the support of his wife Winnie Byanyima, rushed back to Kampala and stood for Presidency and made Amama irrelevant and Besigye seems to have been so sure of winning that he even swore himself illegally at his home at Kasangati.
It is only when 2021 elections that were nearing that he saw no justification for standing a fifth time after past four humiliating defeats, that he feared to confront Bobi Wine. Even then, he did not support him as he described his group as a tribal outfit. He could not even support his former ally, Maj.Gen.Mugisha Muntu who broke away from FDC to form ANT. Instead, he brought in Amuriat who in 2016 was wrestled down by the now Vice President of Uganda Rt.Maj.Jesca Alupo.
So, according to the insiders, while Besigye may be seen as a fresh leader that wants to rebrand the opposition and willing to work with Bobi Wine , Besigye has not changed.
The insiders also say that even the hope that the medical doctor and former National Political Commissar under NRM Government, is grooming Erias Lukwago as his replacement, is not likely, because it will not be the first time. Besigye is targeting donor money, which he was used to and is ensuring that he will be on next presidential election ballot paper and if he loses, as it has been all along, then he will press for power sharing under a government of national unity.
Besigye wanted this after 2011 elections, but on answering my question at his upcountry home at Rwakitura in Kiruhura District, which was live on UBC, President Museveni rejected the power sharing and said that NRM had overwhelmingly won presidential, parliamentary and local government council elections. But Besigye has not given up hope on that, and sometimes, uses donors to solicit President Museveni Government so that he may become a Vice President and Prime Minister.
Inside NRM camp, in my view, there is no doubt that President Yoweri Museveni is still very popular and he will remain persuaded by the NRM fraternity to be its flag bearer in 2026, ini sha’a Allah, and overwhelmingly win. NRM with the ongoing improvement on service delivery and bickering in the Opposition, will also win overwhelmingly and reclaim its former stronghold like Buganda and Busoga regions.
Haji Ahmed Kateregga Musaazi is a veteran journalist and Deputy Resident City Commissioner for Masaka City.
Contact 256-756/772-836537.
Email:hajiahmedkateregga2016@gmail.com
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