PFF Opts Out of 2026 Presidential Race

The Peoples’ Front for Freedom Party (PFF) has announced it will not field a presidential candidate in the 2026 elections, choosing instead to focus on building a united opposition front to challenge the government’s increasingly militarized control of the electoral process.

At a press conference on Wednesday, PFF spokesperson Ibrahim Semujju Nganda explained the party’s decision, emphasizing the need for cooperation among opposition groups in light of what he described as an “existential threat” from the Museveni family and military-led government.

“We believe the broader interest of the country demands that we build a single, stronger, freedom-seeking force to guide the nation through this difficult period and hold it together afterward,” Nganda said. “The current political climate, marked by the abduction of citizens, including candidates, and the military’s stranglehold on electoral processes, makes it impossible for a fair and free election.”

PFF’s decision comes after months of discussions with the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), following a cooperation agreement signed in July 2025. The two parties, alongside the National Unity Platform (NUP), have held several meetings aimed at aggregating their efforts and reducing duplicity in the run-up to the elections.

Nganda noted that while discussions on a joint presidential candidate were ongoing, the coalition was still divided on the best approach.

ANT has proposed two candidates, Maj. Gen. Gregory Mugisha Muntu and Hon. Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, citing their distinct appeal to different segments of the population.

“The ANT believes a coalition can be built around these two candidates, presenting them as though they are one, with complementary strengths,” said Nganda. “However, both PFF and NUP strongly believe in the importance of fielding one joint presidential candidate who can unite the country and effectively lead the struggle for freedom.”

Nganda also claimed that the Museveni family’s control over the Electoral Commission, the Judiciary, and Parliament had effectively left the country’s democratic processes in ruins.

“We are witnessing the militarization of the entire electoral process,” Nganda remarked. “The Electoral Commission has been overrun by the military, while both the Judiciary and Parliament exist in name only. The upcoming elections are being designed to be the worst in our history.”

He also highlighted the ongoing human rights abuses and the systemic intimidation of opposition figures, saying, “The continued disappearances and abductions of citizens, including opposition candidates, have turned this election cycle into a military campaign.”