Opinion: Have the fringe candidates worn off? Yes… they have and we know the drill…

Today in January mere two weeks away from the polls. Do you care about what the other ones does? This is a two man race and everyone knows it. It is a Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine and incumbent self-styled President for Life, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. We all know these are the two that really matters and it shows.

Not that the Presidential Candidate of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) doesn’t have a heart and a conscience. No, Mugisha Muntu is a stand-up guy and a respected leader at this point, but this man doesn’t have the charisma or the ability to move to masses with his manners and visions. He is at least a serious candidate and a man of his words, regardless of it falling flat and going nowhere.

It is worse to look at the Presidential Candidate for Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Nathan Nandala Mafabi who is running on the traditional big-party tent of the opposition, but no one trust him or his party. They have betrayed the cause and they will be remembered for how they drove Dr. Kizza Besigye away from the party. Therefore, this man is just a tragic character filled with flaws and a party of the hinges.

It’s hard to see Robert Kasibante and his National Peasant Party (NPP) mattering, he should have sought after a more reasonable office and even tried to become an MP somewhere. This man is just wasting his time and this isn’t really anything.

Have your heard about Mabirizi this time around? Is the Conservative Party and the second time Presidential Candidate Joseph Mabirizi even heard? Does anyone know what he says or what he pledges? The running joke of youthfulness last time has died off and his just a punchline. It shouldn’t be this way, but the CP isn’t earning political points on this and neither is Mabirizi getting any more credibility doing this.

We can wonder why the Common Man’s Party (CMP) Presidential Candidate Mubarak Munyagwa Sserunga even campaigns. He should just eat the pillau and call it a day. This former MP thinks he can run the nation and become the Head of State. Well, he haven’t even built a proper party before starting to run for Presidency. So, this here will only end in tears, but he will always have the pillau.

Last but not least of the unnecessary candidates are the Presidential Candidate for the Revolutionary People’s Party (RPP), Frank Kabinga Bulira. The man running on the legacy of late Dr. Aggrey Kiyingi. The delusional man and the character his been spewing in the media just show how shallow and lack of structure aren’t taking you anywhere. This man rather build his business portfolio or find the next right person to leach unto. As this man cannot carry the Presidency or the Office, which he seeks.

This all just being blunt. We know the victor is already selected and the polls are only there for legitimacy of the incumbent. Everything is aligned for the NRM to have the majority and rule supreme. Anything else is out of the question and it’s prefixed. It is written in the stars and the tales of old is revised yet again.

These people are only here to make it seem like a race and that there are others who are competing. When it is really just a charade. A mockery and the ones in charge would prefer to kill the multi-party dispensation and re-launch a “Movement System” for this era. Let’s just be real and we can all acknowledge that by now. Peace.

Moses Birigwa: The Activist turned Secretary General

“I don’t feel betrayed by Bobi Wine, but rather betrayed by the leaders from the Busoga region. They have tried their best to make me look like a bad person to our president Bobi Wine. I am glad Bobi Wine knows me and he knows how I have been dedicated towards the struggle” – Moses Birigwa (12.12.2023).

“In 2023, I vowed never again to be led by civilians who lack the capacity to lead a revolution. I have served under many who failed to deliver. That’s why I’ve joined forces with Field Marshal Munyagwa, a true man of the people. I now commit to championing the issues of the common man, long ignored by both the government and the opposition” – Moses Birigwa (15.07.2025).

The former National Unity Platform (NUP) mobiliser for Eastern Uganda has now become the Secretary General of the Common Man’s Party (CMP). This is the party of a former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) MP Mubarak Munyagwa Sserunga who is the Presidential Candidate for the party. Moses Birigwa is entrusting his future in the hands of a former MP and new Opposition leader. A man who just recently said he left the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF). Therefore, they are both vibing for relevance and wanting their cut.

They are all eating of the same plate. Birigwa was the activist and mobiliser for NUP. In that role, he has been arrested and tortured. That’s been documented and proven. As a man of the struggle, he fought and got caught. As a NUP Mobiliser he paid a price and did his duties.

As any man can or want, he can leave a party and go to another one. We don’t know when he moved to the Common Man’s Party, but it can’t be to long ago. As the changes in the party and whatnot isn’t that long ago. He must have built trust and a genuine relationship with Munyagwa to do this. As he was working for the NUP and trying to build the party in Eastern Uganda.

Seriously, this man had a choice, and he has decided. It was all up to him, and he went with the CMP instead of the NUP. That was he wanted to do, and he did. Steadily at various of media appearances his speaking of the difference between CMP and NUP. His not attacking the NRM, but busy challenging his former party. That is an interesting move, and he should consider his stance.

Birigwa has a major role in the CMP, but the CMP is nowhere where the NUP is. That is well known, and everyone can see that on the campaign trail. The CMP won’t amass or make a ripple effect.

If Moses wanted to get out of the desert and get to the promised land. I can tell you that won’t happen with CMP. No, he walks in the desert for years to come and only Joshua will enter it. He should read that story and maybe reflect a bit. We don’t know what the other leaders in the NUP did in the Eastern region, but that could have been handled. Instead, he has now left and boosting his own ego.

His lucky to get the title of Secretary General of the CMP, but that won’t save him. He decided to do this, and he will walk in the sunshine without any end. It will be tiring… and exhausting. Peace.

Two Days of Drama: The Presidential Nominations tells it all

The two days of Presidential Nomination is now over. The Electoral Commission has now accepted 8 candidates. These are: “On Day 1, the following candidates were duly nominated:

• President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (NRM)
• Kasibante Robert (NPP)
• Mabirizi Joseph (CP)

On Day 2, the following candidates were duly nominated:

• Nandala Mafabi James Nathan (FDC)
• Mugisha Gregory Muntu Oyera (ANT)
• Kyagulanyi Robert Ssentamu (NUP)
• Munyagwa Mubarak Sserunga (CMP)
• Bulira Frank Kabinga (RPP)” (Electoral Commission, 24.09.2025).

It is really telling that we are here in 2025 ahead of 2026. Everyone can see the game and the candidates tells it all. Just like the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) aren’t even there. Democratic Party doesn’t have a candidate either. We know why the DP doesn’t have one, but the two oldest parties aren’t involved. That’s a compelling picture.

We see that the true opposition candidates are the Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu of the National Unity Platform (NUP) and Mugisha Gregory Muntu Oyera of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT). Those two are the opposition to the regime and the voices who resonate with people.

The one who has the control and continues the charade is President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of the National Resistance Movement (NRM). That’s why the race is manufactured this way. He only has two voices that can bring people against him. The others are just out of folly at this point.

This time we aren’t seeing independents and there is no one from the Farmers Party or the Ecological Party either. There is no women on the ballot. The 8 candidates are really a meagre example of the population. That is significant when about 200 people paid for the nomination papers. Yes, several students had nowhere to go, but others should have a shot. Even the likes of Muhammed Nsereko who has been a Member of Parliament for ages. If the likes of Mubarak Munyagwa Sserunga of the Common’s Man Party (CMP) can be nominated, why not Nsereko too? Please, who are you lying to?

Last time Joseph Mabirizi was an independent candidate, this time his returning on the Conservative Party (CP) ticket. This means he has veteran politician Ken Lukyamuzi’s support. Which is ironic when Mubarak Munyagwa has said he wanted to copy his style of politics in the past. That’s when things are getting tricky, but neither of these will be a force to be reckon with.

We know that Robert Kasibante of the National Peasant’s Party (NPP) and Frank Bulira Kabinga of the Revolutionary People’s Party (RPP) are on the ballot, but these two aren’t serious in any concern. Kasibante was an aspiring NRM MP just a hot minute ago. So, we know where his heading. The RPP is even less relevant than People’s Progressive Party (PPP) which was blocked from being on the ballot. So, things are weird in this election. RPP is there, but the EC stopped the UPC from being a part of this shindig.

If you wonder by now, why I haven’t mentioned Nathan Nandala Mafabi of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC). Well, there isn’t much to say. He got the key, and he got to wave to empty streets on his nomination day. Even his predecessor Patrick Oboi Amuriat had more theatrics and more drama, which would have created a little interest around his name. Mafabi on the other hand is as inspiring as dry paper. No one believes him and he should just stop kidding himself.

Trust me this is a race between the NRM and NUP. The NRM is targeting the NUP for a reason. All the authorities and the state is going after the NUP. That’s who the enemy is and who they fear. The state doesn’t fear the rest. They are also trying to jade the ballot with a Robert Kasibante versus a Robert Kyagulanyi. We see the gig and it isn’t even clever. They have logo’s and everyone can spot an umbrella if they want too.

These Presidential Nominations and the ones duly participating tells it all. Mabarizi has grown and smart by becoming the CP candidate, but that won’t salvage much. He should have tried to become an MP for that party. That would have made sense. The same can be said about every candidate for the NPP, ANT, FDC, CMP and the RPP. All of these would be better off doing so.

Yes, Muntu is a figure of respect and of pragmatism. Some even says a President the nation never gets and apparently doesn’t deserve. However, this is a Museveni and Bobi Wine race. The others are just there to look nice and make it seems like people has choices to pick from. When everyone knows the score. This isn’t even funny, but that’s how things are managed. Peace.

Opinion: Eating pilau won’t save your career

At times it seems like someone needs to take advice, assess their state of mind and think straight to get ahead. All of those things must have gotten lost on Mubarak Munyagwa who isn’t getting anywhere.

Yes, the former Member of Parliament launched his Common’s Man Party and ate Pilau for anyone to see. He ate in unity and bashed in glory of the launch of the new party. The party that was known as the Uganda Economic Party (UEP) is rebranded and has new leadership ahead of the General Elections of 2026. That isn’t anything new, but is a sign of the times.

Munyagwa maybe has a life-line and has a briefcase party to enlarge his pockets. However, he can easily become a punchline and not as significant as he wants to be. Because there is no difference between him and the likes of Kabuleta. They are both running their parties, but no one will really care. They could just be the Michael Mabikke’s of this world. Like that’s where Munyagwa is heading and he seems to not know it himself.

Munyagwa is getting his own butter and buttering his own bread now. That is what is shown now. Even as his eating rice on a silver platter in front of everyone. This is maybe a sign of his goal. That he wants to eat and that’s it’s his turn. Regardless, that’s not his choice or his decision. The ones surrounding him will tell their tales as well. Since we all know the drill and the reasons for their decisions. It isn’t about the policies or political platform, but more about what is served on the platter.

This party starting as a joke and with the butt of the joke isn’t anything better. For someone who lost to the National Unity Platform (NUP) in the last election. He should know the pain and the indifference of what he used to do.

Now his starting this party and it seems futile, as it’s only a launching pad for his political career. As he just needs to be seen as a kingmaker and someone who believes he can achieve the impossible. That’s what it looks like.

Munyagwa is bound to fail and tragically too. Just like the younglings who suddenly aims for the highest office. They are just punchlines and not sincere competition. Neither does they have the gravitas or the character to gain popularity either. That’s what is missing here too.

This here is just a mockery of an attempt. A bunch of foolery and a waste of good rice. The pilau deserved better and the former MP should have acknowledged his own short-comings. Instead he wants the glory and the envelopes. Peace.