Why Munyagwa chose Common Man's Party over Besigye’s PFF

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In a stunning political move, Mubarak Munyagwa, a longtime ally of three-time presidential candidate Dr Kiiza Besigye under the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) ticket, has opted not to follow his former leader into the People's Front for Freedom (PFF). Instead, he has joined the newly formed Common Man's Party (CMP).

Munyagwa, the former Kawempe South MP, cited dissatisfaction with the leadership and management of PFF, which is currently under the leadership of Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda.

The Common Man's Party (CMP) party president, Mubarak Munyagwa addressing the party supporters shortly after the swearing in ceremony at Jacaranda Gardens in Rubaga division. (Photo by Isaac Nuwagaba)

“I publicly distanced myself from the party after noticing that the new party leadership was under Lukwago. I wanted an independent home where I can make independent decisions without anybody in PFF management thinking that I am getting all the commands from Besigye, whom many saw as a competitor for their positions they currently occupy at the party,” Munyagwa disclosed.

Dissatisfaction with PFF leadership

In an exclusive interview on Monday, July 21, at Jacaranda Gardens in Rubaga Division, Munyagwa said his decision to leave PFF stemmed from frustration with its leadership and internal politics. He alleged that the party's top figures were more focused on securing positions than championing Uganda’s liberation from President Museveni’s rule.

“I saw the competition for positions in PFF when it was starting to take shape while Besigye was in Luzira prison with Hajj Obeid Lutale and I decided to keep off because nobody mobilised defiantly on the streets to force President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to release them unconditionally, but only kept talking about it,” Munyagwa said.

He also expressed disappointment that PFF leaders at Katonga had failed to implement Besigye’s ‘Plan B’, which he viewed as essential for challenging the status quo.

Common Man's Party (CMP) party president, Mubarak Munyagwa expressing his excitment shortly after swearing in at Jacaranda Gardens in Rubaga division on Tuesday. (Photo by Isaac Nuwagaba)

“How can you claim to follow the rule of law when the one in power has never even followed it? Besigye and Lutale have spent over 240 days in jail without trial, even when the Constitution gives them mandatory bail and the Katonga establishment remains without the next course of action,” he criticised.

Little is publicly known about what Besigye meant when he announced ‘Plan B’ shortly before stepping back from elective politics in 2020 to allow Patrick Amuriat Oboi to lead the FDC as its presidential flagbearer.

“Those claiming to work closely with Besigye to bring down President Museveni’s National Resistance Movement (NRM) government at Katonga remain stranded when he is arrested,” he observed.

Joining the Common Man's Party

Munyagwa’s move to CMP marks a notable shift in Uganda’s opposition landscape. As the party’s newly elected president, he aims to rally disillusioned voters tired of an ageing and divided opposition.

He said CMP will focus on ordinary Ugandans, including boda-boda riders, single mothers, unemployed youth, and rural peasants.

CMP’s vision and mission

CMP seeks to address what it sees as glaring inequalities in the distribution of public resources. The party has adopted the symbol of a ‘Platter’ outside the ‘Map of Uganda’ to symbolise these disparities.

Common Man's Party (CMP) secretary general Moses Bigirwa and party president, Mubarak Munyagwa eating pilao on a platter, a party symbol for resource sharing. (Photo by Isaac Nuwagaba)

Munyagwa believes that by putting the ‘common man’ at the centre, the party will resonate with Ugandans who feel ignored and sidelined by existing political structures.

Implications of the move

Political analyst Charles Rwomushana described Munyagwa’s defection from PFF as a rejection of political cultism and a signal of change ahead of the 2026 general elections.

“Munyagwa has been sheepishly following Besigye without any ideological evidence to convince Ugandans that his methods will work,” Rwomushana criticised.

“What special trait does Besigye possess as a former army colonel who never showed any difference with the civilians in population like what President Yoweri Museveni did when his 1981 victory was taken by Obote?” he asked.

Rwomushana believes Munyagwa’s break from PFF is symptomatic of broader frustrations within the opposition.

Lukwago, Ssemujju react

When contacted, Lukwago dismissed Munyagwa’s claims, saying he had not participated in building PFF since losing his Kawempe South seat to Bashir Kazibwe.

PFF party president and Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago speaking during a recent press conference at their Katonga offices. (Photo by Isaac Nuwagaba)

“If you have been following politics in Uganda, Munyagwa left us in the struggle when he was defeated as the Kawempe South MP and never came back, even before our split with the FDC prior to creating PFF,” he said.

Ssemujju added that Munyagwa had abandoned them at a crucial time when they were rebranding the FDC.

“He wanted top positions in the party, yet he remained on the sidelines when we were doing countrywide consultations among our supporters who decided that we form a new party ahead of 2026,” he said.

“He is free to come and join as a member whom we know, but he should not be the one to accuse us of sidelining him because the struggle is still ongoing whether Besigye is there or not,” Ssemujju advised.

Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda speaking during a press conference held at their Katonga offices. (Photo by Isaac Nuwagaba)

“The struggle for freedom is for all Ugandans and not Besigye alone. He is free to lead it if he claims bravely, like he is saying. Why can’t he come and take Besigye’s position to decide for us a new direction if he feels we have failed?” he asked.

Why Munyagwa did not join NUP

Despite the National Unity Platform (NUP) commanding the largest parliamentary opposition bloc, Munyagwa said he could not trust the party due to past incidents involving its supporters.

“When NUP came, their errant supporters wanted to kill Besigye at Central Broadcasting Service (CBS) radio after the political talk show. They started undermining, insulting him and threatening to beat him,” he disclosed.

He said this undermining of Besigye made it impossible for him to trust or join either NUP or PFF, both of which he accused of failing to protect respected opposition figures.

The CMP secretary general Moses Bigirwa and party president, Mubarak Munyagwa eating pilao on a platter, a party symbol for resource sharing as other party members look on. (Photo by Isaac Nuwagaba)

“I would have joined NUP to get a ticket and become an MP, but that would not have brought the impactful change seeking to clean up a clogged, corrupt system which uses military dictatorship to remain in power against the will of Ugandans for the last 39 years running,” he noted.

CMP unveils leadership

During the CMP launch, a third of its leadership was sworn in to begin grassroots mobilisation. Among them were former NUP coordinator Moses Bigirwa, now CMP secretary general; John Tumwine, vice president western; Habib Semakula, vice president Buganda; Mulwani Taminwa, vice president eastern; Harruna Musanje, national youth chairman; James Watentena, national chairperson; Lukwago Musa, national treasurer; and Prof. Dennis Namara, chairperson of the party's electoral commission.

Also in attendance were leaders from other parties, including the Revolutionary People’s Party (RPP) led by Charles Mutasa Kafeero and Eng. Senjako Dafala, the party’s treasurer general.