An Opinion By Phillip R. Ongadia
As a Ugandan who has followed our nation’s political journey with concern and patriotic interest, I view the launch of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) not as a sign of political renewal, but as yet another tired rerun. Let’s not be fooled by the flashy branding—PFF is nothing more than new wine in an old bottle. It is a gathering of recycled political players who have been around for decades, peddling the same slogans, the same grievances, and ultimately, the same failures.
What exactly is new about a lineup that features Dr. Kizza Besigye, Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, Ssemujju Nganda, Wafula Oguttu, Salaam Musumba, and Mwijukye Francis? These are seasoned figures who, over the years, have shifted from one failed opposition attempt to another. They broke up the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), once a strong opposition force, leading to more splinters like ANT and now PFF. These aren’t ideological movements—they’re political soap operas born out of ego, not principle.
Let’s be honest with ourselves: what fresh solutions do these individuals bring to the table that they haven’t already tried—and failed at? I see none. Just the same tired rhetoric, repeated endlessly in different party colors.
Frankly, I believe this is a desperate attempt by political entrepreneurs to remain relevant. Dr. Besigye has contested and lost four elections. Erias Lukwago has hopped from DP to FDC and now PFF. How can anyone call that principled leadership? These are not patriots with a vision for Uganda—they are self-seekers clinging to relevance.
History is full of such formations, and almost all have ended in irrelevance. From the post-Obote collapse of the UPC to the splintering of the DP, political factions built around personalities—not policies—inevitably crumble.
Contrast this with the National Resistance Movement (NRM), which continues to deliver stability and progress. Under President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Uganda has moved from ruins to resilience. Infrastructure, security, youth empowerment, and regional cooperation are tangible results of consistent leadership. Real transformation doesn’t come from shouting on podiums; it comes from implementing policies and seeing them through.
Even former critics like Betty Kamya and Beatrice Anywar realized this and joined the NRM—not because they were coerced, but because they saw where real progress was being made.
We’ve seen it across Africa too. In Rwanda and Tanzania, those who once opposed steady leadership with populism have either vanished or returned to the fold. Uganda must learn from these examples. Constant fragmentation of the opposition only serves to confuse voters and divide the electorate. This tactic is as old as it is harmful—and Ugandans are wise enough to see through it.
PFF claims to be a new beginning, but it’s really a rerun. The same faces. The same politics. The same lack of results.
To my fellow Ugandans, especially the youth: don’t fall for it. Let’s not be distracted by empty rebranding. Uganda needs committed builders, not political wanderers. While NRM isn’t perfect, it has remained consistent and results-driven. It has changed lives—not party names.
Let’s not be drawn into supporting vessels that are loud but empty. The stakes for Uganda’s future are too high to play roulette with our leadership. Let’s rally behind the party that has proven its worth—NRM.
As Winston Churchill once said, “You will never reach your destination if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks.” We must keep moving forward. And right now, the only vehicle capable of taking us there is the NRM.
For God and My Country,
Phillip R. Ongadia
