The fight against dictatorship in Uganda has long been the catchphrase of the political opposition. From the National Unity Platform (NUP) to the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), the message is clear: the country deserves a democratic future. Yet, a closer look at the internal workings of these very parties reveals troubling contradictions.
The opposition, it seems, is not fighting for democracy as a principle but rather as a tool to seize power, exposing its leaders as mere power-hungry self-seekers.
It’s true what they say: you cannot give what you do not have. How can political parties that practice internal dictatorship be expected to usher in a democratic era for the nation? The evidence of this internal decay is widespread and alarming.
In many of these opposition parties, the concept of a democratic election for leadership or flag bearers is nonexistent. Leaders impose themselves, often holding onto power for decades without a single competitive vote. Dissenting voices are not just ignored; they are actively suppressed and cast out. The party’s flag, a symbol meant to represent the will of the people, becomes a commodity to be bought or a favor to be granted.
The National Unity Platform (NUP) provides a vivid illustration of this dynamic. For the five years its leader, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine), has been at the helm, the party has not held primary elections or internal party elections. His word is final and unquestionable, and those who dare to challenge it are quickly shown the exit. The party’s structure appears to be one of planned positions, reserved for a select few.
When it comes to the selection of flag bearers for elective positions, the process is far from democratic. Reports indicate that the criteria for selection often hinges on an aspirant’s ability to pay exorbitant sums of money, completely undermining the democratic practice of a merit-based, competitive primary.
The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), once seen as the beacon of organized opposition, dared to hold internal elections, only to have its leadership disputes tear the party apart. The fallout has splintered the party into three distinct entities: the FDC, the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), and the newly formed People’s Front for Freedom (PFF).
The PFF’s formation is particularly telling. Its founders reportedly sat and allocated positions among themselves without any form of election, and they are now accused of issuing party flags exclusively to their close associates, further undermining the democratic principles they claim to champion.
This pattern of internal consolidation of power is not limited to the newer parties. Just this week, Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) president Jimmy Akena dismissed three officials from the party’s Electoral Commission, accusing them of constitutional overreach. While Akena claims the action was necessary to preserve party cohesion ahead of the 2026 general elections, many believe it is yet another move to entrench his rule within the party.
For observers of Uganda’s political landscape, this issue is a serious concern for the country’s democratic health. Sarah Bireete, the Executive Director of the Center for Constitutional Governance (CCG), points out that the opposition’s weaknesses within their own parties make people lose interest in politics and even prefer the current situation.
“This lack of internal democracy makes people rather stay with the NRM, which, despite its flaws, at least conducts party primaries and regular elections,” she states.
Miriam Kugonza, National Coordinator for the Citizens’ Coalition for Electoral Democracy in Uganda (CCEDU), attributes this widespread democratic failure to a fundamental flaw in the opposition’s DNA.
“The root cause of this lack of democracy is simple greed,” Kugonza explains. “The founders of these parties are not driven by a shared vision for a democratic Uganda; they are driven by a personal desire for control, and they see the party as their private property to be run for their own benefit.”
As Uganda heads toward another election cycle, the hypocrisy of the opposition is an obvious weakness. If they truly want to be a credible alternative to the current regime, they must first look inward. A party that cannot practice democracy among its own members has no moral authority to preach it to the nation.
Until they embrace true internal accountability, transparency, and the free will of their members, the opposition will continue to be seen as nothing more than a worse version of the old guard it so desperately seeks to replace.
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