Reports indicate that several opposition parties are holding roundtable discussions aimed at fronting a single presidential candidate against President Yoweri Museveni in the 2026 general elections.
The talks involve Dr. Kizza Besigye’s People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), Gen. Mugisha Muntu’s Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), Hon. Muhammad Nsereko’s Ecological Party, the Democratic Front led by Hon. Mathias Mpuuga, the Conservative Party of John Ken Lukyamuzi, Joseph Kabuleta’s NEED party, and the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC).
Sources reveal that the group has tentatively agreed to front Gen. Mugisha Muntu as the coalition’s presidential flag bearer after Hon. Mathias Mpuuga declined the task, saying he intends to seek re-election as Nyendo-Mukungwe MP.
Gen. Muntu is reported to have accepted the role following marathon discussions among party leaders. “This could be a turning point for the opposition if we rally behind one credible candidate,” a source close to the talks said.
However, Besigye’s Kenyan lawyer, Martha Karua, strongly rejected the proposal, insisting that Col. Besigye should instead be chosen as the flag bearer despite being imprisoned at Luzira. She argued that his candidacy could pressure the government to release him, just as was the case in 2006.
Despite her stance, insiders note that Besigye himself has always expressed reluctance to contest in elections he considers unfair. Party leaders are now planning to meet him in prison to seek his position—either to accept the candidacy or endorse Gen. Muntu.
Notably, Robert Kyagulanyi’s National Unity Platform (NUP) has not been invited to the ongoing talks. Party spokesman Joel Ssenyonyi confirmed that while NUP is open to joining discussions, they remain cautious.
“We are willing to sit at the table, but we suspect that some leaders within these talks are secretly collaborating with the regime to frustrate genuine opposition unity,” Ssenyonyi said.
Observers believe only Dr. Besigye has the political capital to bring NUP on board, given his longstanding relationship with Kyagulanyi.
As the talks progress, all eyes remain on whether the divided opposition can overcome mistrust and finally unite behind a single candidate to challenge President Museveni’s decades-long rule.
