Rukungiri – In recent months, a powerful opposition political party called People’s Front for freedom (PPF) Party has begun rippling through Rukungiri District.
The newly formed opposition party has entered the political arena with unprecedented momentum.
The formation of the PFF party was as a result of internal misunderstandings between the top leaders of Forum for democratic change ( FDC) Party.
These misunderstandings did not leave the party standing but they only created divisions and defections which left many party supporters and members politically homeless.
The politically homeless opposition members who believed in Dr Kizza Besigye defected FDC and a formed new political party which they named People’s Front for freedom (PFF) By aligning itself with Dr Besigye’s legacy as the true inheritor of FDC’s original promise of integrity, resistance to corruption, and strong opposition values, PFF has reawakened in Rukungiri both hope and loyalty among many voters who felt betrayed or disappointed by previous opposition failures.
Basing on the district’s deep opposition history and the already available grassroot network and support, PFF appears well positioned to win big in Rukungiri in the upcoming 2026 general elections and here is why.
The district’s Legacy.
Mr Darius Baguma Tweyambe , a political analyst said Rukungiri is not just like any other district in Uganda. ‘’ People should that Rukungiri is where the iconic opposition political figure Rtd Col. Dr Kizza Besigye is born.
” Only that gives PFF party an upper hand of winning big in the coming 2026 general elections’’ Mr Tweyambe said.
He added that ‘’ for years, Rukungiri has been a stronghold of opposition in Uganda and it still leads other districts in the county so the district’s opposition history can’t be under looked because it is going to help PFF party flag bearers to win big in the coming 2026 general elections’’.
Mr Mugisha Twinomujuni , another political analyst in Rukungiri district told daily monitor that one of the strongest advantages of PFF in Rukungiri is that the party is not starting from scratch.
‘’ The already existing FDC structures from village level up to district level, local committees, former FDC party agents and community networks organizers. All these factors give PFF another chance of winning big in Rukungiri district in the coming 2026 general elections’’. Mr Twinomujuni said.
Mr Twinomujuni added that ‘’ the signature collection campaign which the PFF party conducted a few months ago in the district also tells how much people wanted a new party that would help them forget FDC which betrayed them. This campaign was massively embraced by all people from all walks of life because the party collected thousands of signatures in Rukungiri alone, far exceeding required ones’’.
The Kigezi region PFF party co-coordinator Fred Turyamuhweza said the continued detention of Dr Kizza Besigye will also help the PFF party to win big in the district.
‘’ Rukungiri people love Dr Besigye as their son. His continued detention will help us because people will give us sympathy votes. The good population of Rukungiri is not happy with his arrest. So people will vote for us as their only hope that may see their son Dr Besigye getting out of prison’’. Mr Turyamuhweza said.
Disunity within NRM.
He adds that ‘’the 17th July 2025 NRM party primary elections created a lot of disunity among the NRM party members. Some of the members who lost the flag up to now are still vowing that they come as independents in the coming 2026 general elections. So when they come as independents it will give us a chance as PFF to win big in the coming elections’’.
On the issue of disunity within PFF, Mr Turyamuhweza said as PFF party they have attempted to address that, urging supporters to set aside past grievances and rally together under its banner.
‘’ We agreed that the party is bigger than any one individual because this issue cost us a lot and we ended up performing poorly in the 2021 general elections’’ ‘.Mr Turyamuhweza noted.
People’s Belief and Symbolism .
Rtd Rev Amos Ankawakasa and a member of PFF believes that Winning an election doesn’t only require votes but also people’s belief built on visibility, symbolism, and momentum.
‘’ PFF has launched a lot of activities in the district and in Kigezi as a region. The activities like processions, launching of membership cards, the opening of regional and district offices. All these activities show the presence of the PFF party in the district which also gives it an upper hand of winning big in the coming 2026 general elections’’. Rtd Rev. Ankawakasa said.
Voter Fatigue.
Ms Betty Kamugisha, a farmer in Bugangari sub- county Rukungiri district said for a long period of time, a good percentage of people in Rukungiri have been voting NRM party but they have gained nothing from their votes.
‘’ We have for sure voted for President Museveni and his NRM government but what hurts us is that the NRM has taken our votes for granted and has totally failed to deliver our expectations. And because of this we have on good reason as to why we should vote NRM again ‘’. Ms Kamugisha said.
Ms Kamugisha added ‘’ I want to tell you that we shall vote PFF because it is the only hope left for us to at least help us in providing near social services’’.Unity within the party.
The Rukungiri district PFF party Chairperson Mr Aloysius Mugarara, said ‘’ formerly we were not united and we used to work in fractions but this time around we have agreed to work together and fight our common enemy as opposition people. So the other disunity which cost us a lot during the 2021 general elections is no longer a problem because we have consolidated many of those opposition energies under one flag. So If this holds, the NRM’s advantage in incumbency may be offset by the strong, mobilized opposition’’.
Mr Moses Sali, a business man in Rukungiri town said ‘’ the legacy of Dr Kizza Besigye is deeply felt and embedded in Rukungiri’s collective memory. PFF’s association with that legacy gives it legitimacy and emotional pull’’.
He believes the name Dr Besigye will greatly help all the PFF party flag bearers and they will perform well in the coming 2026 general elections.
Mr Caleb Musiimanta , a member of PFF party said the unfulfilled promises by the NRM government and desire for change will also contribute a lot towards the progressiveness of PFF in Rukungiri.
‘’ Every election, the NRM government promises a lot and nothing is fulfilled so we are tired of their lies. We shall not vote for them again ’’. Mr Musiimanta said.
Ms Kamateneti Ingrid Turinawe, the PFF party flag bearer for Rukungiri municipality said maintaining unity, sustaining grassroot networks and mobilization, Countering intimidation and electoral irregularities among others will greatly help the party to perform well in the coming 2026 general elections.
‘’ Internal divisions or personality clashes who can erode our support must stop because internal fighting may affect our performance and as PFF we have agreed to work together ‘’ Ms Kamateneti said.
Ms Kamateneti added ‘’ If these trends continue then PFF doesn’t just stand a chance but we shall stand a strong chance of sweeping many local seats in Rukungiri, reclaiming district positions, and perhaps producing MPs who carry sizeable margins.’’
. The People’s Front for Freedom has lit a spark. If we remain true to its promise, consolidate our organization and we build on the Legacy of Dr Besigye without allowing history to trap it, I believe that we will win big in Rukungiri in 2026’’. Ms Kamateneti added.
About Rukungiri district.
Rukungiri district is found in Kigezi sub- region in South western Uganda. It has 3 countries that is Rubabo, Rukungiri municipality and Rujumbura county.
The district also has 13 sub- counties and 4 town councils.
The district is well known as the birthplace of opposition in Uganda having Dr Kizza Besigye , the iconic opposition figure in Uganda.
Rukungiri district has a total of 185,231 official registered voters according to Uganda electoral commissioner.Political candidates fighting for seats.
In Rubabo county , the NRM party has fielded Mwesigwa Mathias Rwabugumi while PFF will field Naboth Namanya, the current member of parliament .
The others in the race are Bob Alex Rugonde, Ms Doreen Busingye who both lost the NRM party flag to Mathias Rwabugumi.
Their coming into this election as independents gives PFF’s Naboth Namanya an upper hand.
In Rukungiri municipality, Rtd. Lt. Gen Henry Tumukunde of NRM will be in the race with PFF’s Ms Kamateneti Ingrid Turinawe.
It is not yet clear whether there is any other person who lost the flag to both of them coming into this election as an independent candidate.In Rujumbura security minister Rtd. Maj.Gen Jim K Muhwezi will be in a tight race with PFF’s Fred Turyamuhweza who once defeated him in the 2016 genernal elections.
