Kampala, Uganda – Buikwe South Member of Parliament, Dr. Lulume Bayiga, has officially joined the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), marking his exit from the Democratic Party (DP) after a long-standing feud with DP President Norbert Mao.
Bayiga was formally welcomed into the PFF this afternoon by party leaders and supporters in a symbolic ceremony that drew wide attention from both political analysts and grassroots followers.
The decision comes just weeks after Bayiga lost the DP presidency to Mao in a hotly contested internal race, the latest episode in what insiders have described as a deepening ideological and generational rift within Uganda’s oldest political party.
“I can no longer be part of a party that has strayed so far from its founding principles,” Bayiga said during his speech at the PFF headquarters. “This is not betrayal. It is liberation.”
His switch is being interpreted by political watchers as a bold rebuke of Mao’s collaborationist stance with the ruling government, the National Resistance Movement (NRM), especially following the Mao’s appointment as Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs under President Yoweri Museveni’s regime, a move many in the opposition labeled a sellout.
The defection is a major boost for the relatively young People’s Front for Freedom, a coalition pushing for unified opposition ahead of the 2026 general elections, with key figures like Dr. Kizza Besigye and Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda leading the charge.
At the ceremony, held at the PFF offices in Kampala, Bayiga received the party’s signature red beret and flag as cheers rang out from supporters.
The event was also attended by several PFF delegates, civil society figures, and youth leaders eager to harness Bayiga’s experience in Parliament and mobilization.
Bayiga’s departure deals yet another blow to the Democratic Party, which has seen a string of defections in recent years, with many accusing Mao of steering the party into irrelevance by working too closely with NRM.
“The DP we knew is no more. What remains is a shadow the soul has left.”
With this defection, DP risks becoming increasingly marginal in a political field now dominated by more assertive players like NUP, FDC, and the newly rising Democratic Front (DF).
Bayiga’s arrival adds legislative muscle to the PFF and is expected to attract more moderates from traditional opposition ranks. His medical background, grassroots ties, and long experience in Parliament are likely to enhance the party’s profile.
The MP has vowed to hit the ground running, starting with regional mobilization in Buikwe and surrounding areas. The PFF leadership, meanwhile, plans to unveil a strategic roadmap later this month to outline their electoral game plan and possible opposition coalitions.
Also read: Democratic Front Leaders Sworn In
