Over 700 delegates from across Uganda have unanimously endorsed Nyendo–Mukungwe MP Mathias Mpuuga as the first president of the newly formed Democratic Front (DF), a rebranded political party born out of the dormant Green Partisan Party (GPP).
The endorsement took place on Thursday during DF’s inaugural national delegates’ conference held at Laston Gardens in Masaka City, where delegates also ratified the party’s National Executive Committee without a single competitive vote.
Mpuuga, currently serving as a parliamentary commissioner and formerly the Leader of the Opposition, was handed the party’s top job, marking a fresh political rebirth following his recent fallout with the National Unity Platform (NUP) leadership.
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“I am not here to chase positions in next year’s General Election,” Mpuuga told delegates. “This is about building a monument of our existence. We know what to do, and we shall build a strong party that will survive the test of time to lead reforms after the 2026 polls.”
The Democratic Front, Mpuuga said, is focused not on capturing power in the short term but on reshaping Uganda’s political landscape for future generations.
Mpuuga will be deputized by four vice presidents representing different regions, including Pascal Amuriat (Eastern) and Hajji Abnoor Kyammundu (Buganda), a recent defector from the Justice Forum (JEEMA).
Other notable appointments include Kimaanya–Kabonera MP Dr Abed Bwanika as party treasurer and Masaka City Woman MP Juliet Kakande as DF’s women leader.
Veteran politician Samuel Lubega Mukaaku was named national chairperson, while former Makindye East MP Michael Mabikke takes on the role of secretary general. Former Rubaga North MP Moses Kasibante will serve as secretary for information and publicity.
Entebbe Municipality MP Michael Mbwatekamwa, another former NUP member, hailed the DF as a platform to restore “sanity” in opposition politics.
“Many Ugandans have given up on the struggle due to internal fights, mistrust, and sabotage. We are here to end that cycle and promote tolerance and unity,” he said.
The formation of DF follows Mpuuga’s widely publicized fallout with the NUP leadership, sparked by a controversial Shs500 million “service award” he received as parliamentary commissioner. While NUP labeled the payout as an abuse of office and demanded his resignation, Mpuuga stood his ground, insisting he had done nothing wrong.
Delegates at the Masaka conference resolved to pursue electoral reforms, advocate for the release of political prisoners, including Dr Kizza Besigye, and build bridges with other opposition players ahead of the 2026 elections.
The two-day conference concludes Friday with the official launch of the Democratic Front as Uganda’s newest political party.
