The People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) has fired a strong warning to the National Unity Platform (NUP), saying they will never hand over control of Kampala City to what they call a party of “comedians, hooligans, and political pretenders.”
This sharp statement was made by MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, the PFF spokesperson and Member of Parliament (MP) for Kira Municipality, during a media address in which he also confirmed that Erias Lukwago, the long-serving Lord Mayor, will not be running for president in 2026.
“We couldn’t allow Kampala to fall into the hands of a comedian from NUP,” we had to weigh the cost, and the risk was too high. Yes, Lukwago had presidential ambitions, but Kampala is too important to gamble with,” Ssemujju stated.
Ssemujju went on to criticize NUP’s chaotic and unserious approach to national politics, accusing them of turning opposition leadership into a joke since their formation.
Ssemujju accused NUP of being more focused on performing for social media than building serious structures or developing policy. “You can’t remove a regime with hashtags and concerts,” they’ve had all the support, all the numbers, but they’ve wasted it on emotional politics and drama,” he added.
He further argued that NUP has no real strategy to defeat the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), pointing to the party’s weak performance in Parliament, lack of internal democracy, and poor leadership track record in areas they control.
“They cry dictatorship but refuse to organize their own party democratically,” they speak of change but behave like lost boys without a compass,” Ssemujju said.
According to Ssemujju, Kampala is the heartbeat of Uganda’s opposition and a symbol of resistance that cannot be left in the hands of people who treat politics like entertainment.
Erias Lukwago, who has been Lord Mayor since 2011, is credited with standing firm against government interference, defending constitutional rights, and exposing corruption at Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA).
“Kampala needs a leader who can face the regime and not one who runs to Facebook when things get tough,” Ssemujju said.
He added that PFF, held several closed-door meetings and agreed that protecting Kampala was more important than risking it for political experiments.
Ssemujju also questioned what NUP has done in areas where they have control pointing to the lack of development, unfulfilled campaign promises, and conflicts within the party itself. He challenged the party to “show results, not TikToks.”
He hinted that NUP’s obsession with popularity has blinded them from the real work of political organizing, mobilizing rural votes, and confronting the regime on policy issues.
With Erias Lukwago set to defend his seat, the opposition under PFF is clearly drawing a line between serious leadership and what Ssemujju described as “jokers playing revolution.”
In his final remarks, Ssemujju warned that handing over Kampala to NUP would be “a betrayal of the struggle” and “the fastest way to weaken the opposition.”
“We are not here to entertain people. We are here to lead a real struggle. If others want to joke, they can do it elsewhere not with Kampala,” Ssemujju concluded.
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