In a move that could shift the dynamics of Uganda’s opposition politics ahead of the 2026 general elections, reliable sources reveal that Democratic Front president Hon. Mathias Mpuuga and Ecological Party of Uganda leader Hon. Muhammad Nsereko are engaged in high-level discussions aimed at forming a political coalition.
According to insider information, the coalition seeks to unite the two emerging opposition parties in a strategic partnership, with the goal of increasing their influence both in Parliament and within key national platforms like the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD).
If the talks materialize, Hon. Nsereko is expected to be the coalition’s presidential flag bearer, while Hon. Mpuuga is reportedly planning a return to contest for his Nyendo-Mukungwe parliamentary seat, which is currently attracting interest from Sam Muyizzi, a high-profile lawyer aligned with the National Unity Platform (NUP).
Sources further suggest that the Mpuuga-Nsereko coalition is targeting a larger share of parliamentary seats in order to qualify for state funding through IPOD, a framework designed to facilitate dialogue and cooperation among political parties in Uganda. The funding available through IPOD is said to be in the billions of shillings.
To strengthen their case, it is reported that Hon. Dr. Abed Bwanika, who currently heads the finance docket within the Democratic Front, is drafting a formal request to the IPOD committee, seeking recognition and inclusion of the coalition among state-funded political formations. The group intends to highlight the presence of sitting Members of Parliament such as Michael Kakembo, Juliet Kakande, Nsereko, Bwanika, and Mpuuga as evidence of their legitimacy.
Observers note that Dr. Bwanika, who previously contested on the NUP ticket in 2021 despite heading his own People’s Development Party (PDP), is familiar with party registration dynamics and coalition negotiations, positioning him as a key player in the behind-the-scenes strategy.
Political analysts view the development as part of a wider trend in Uganda’s opposition space, where multiple actors are forming or reviving political parties. This comes amid speculation that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, if re-elected in 2026, may extend a hand to cooperative opposition figures in a possible post-election government.
The latest to join the wave is singer-turned-politician Hajjat Stecia Mayanja, who recently launched the National Peasants Party (NPP). Her entry is viewed by some as an attempt to dilute the influence of NUP and its leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine), especially among urban and youth voters.
