Kampala, Uganda – Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has been elected the interim president of the newly launched People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), in a major political shake-up poised to energize Uganda’s opposition ahead of the 2026 general elections.
The announcement came during a high-profile delegates’ conference held in Kampala on Tuesday, where leaders from across the country gathered to unveil the party’s leadership structures and national agenda.
Lukwago, a long-serving critic of President Museveni’s government, will now steer the PFF for a two-year transitional period, as the party gears up for a grassroots mobilization campaign.
“We are here to reclaim the people’s sovereignty and chart a new political direction anchored in justice, constitutionalism, and civic liberty,” Lukwago said in his acceptance speech at the PFF headquarters.
Joining Lukwago at the party’s helm is Buikwe South MP Dr. Lulume Bayiga, who has been appointed Deputy President for the Buganda region. Bayiga recently defected from the Democratic Party (DP) after losing its top seat to Justice Minister Norbert Mao, a split that triggered his realignment with the PFF.
Prominent opposition MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, representing Kira Municipality, has taken on the critical role of Secretary General, reinforcing the party’s intellectual and parliamentary clout.
“This is not about political convenience. it’s about survival of democracy,” Ssemujju noted, adding that the PFF would prioritize electoral reforms, youth empowerment, and civic education.
The appointments reflect PFF’s growing ambition to present itself as a third-force alternative, especially as voter fatigue toward traditional parties like FDC and DP rises.
Meanwhile, civil society actors are raising red flags over the shrinking civic space in the lead-up to 2026. Dr. Sarah Bireete, Executive Director of the Center for Constitutional Governance (CCG), has decried the exclusion of media and NGOs from key public events.
Speaking in Kampala, Bireete pointed fingers at the Common Ground Council (CGC) and electoral bodies, urging them to advocate for free, fair, and military-free elections.
“When you block media like Next Media, you are sending a dangerous message. Ugandans must be allowed to freely choose their leaders without fear of military interference,” she said.
Her comments come just days after several journalists and civic groups were blocked from attending high-level NRM events and official electoral briefings.
With Lukwago’s elevation to PFF presidency, the opposition terrain is shifting and fast. Analysts believe the consolidation of figures like Ssemujju and Bayiga under one umbrella could disrupt traditional party lines, especially in urban centers and Buganda strongholds.
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