In a decisive political move, former Leader of Opposition, Mathias Mpuuga has officially severed ties with the National Unity Platform (NUP) and unveiled a new political party, the Democratic Front (DF).
This follows months of speculation and visible tension between Mpuuga and NUP President Bobi Wine.
On Tuesday, the Nyendo-Mukungwe MP officially launched Democratic Front as a fresh alternative for Ugandans yearning for a new direction in leadership and governance.
He said the new political party is deliberate in bringing freshness to Uganda’s political landscape.
“It is born out of our motherland’s need for meaningful transformation that transcends the tired cycle of recycled ideologies,”Mpuuga said.
“This comes not as a disruption, but a necessity born of the failures of the status quo. It is a home for logical thinkers, progressive minds, and those who believe in political ethics and disciplined service delivery.”
The new party is a metamorphosis and approval from the Electoral Commission renaming the Green Partisan Party to the Democratic Front done on May 6, 2025, in accordance with Section 6(1)(f) of the Political Parties and Organisations Act, Cap 178.
With this development, Mpuuga’s political divorce from NUP is now legally sealed.
His departure comes months after a reshuffle saw him removed from his position as Leader of Opposition, sparking internal wrangles and a growing ideological rift between him and the NUP leadership.
The fallout reached a boiling point when Mpuuga was accused of accepting a shs 500 million “service award,” which NUP supporters denounced as a bribe—a claim he has consistently and vehemently denied.
Hopes for reconciliation briefly surfaced during the Kabaka at 70 Thanksgiving Mass at Rubaga Cathedral, where Mpuuga and Bobi Wine were seen in conversation.
Many interpreted the moment as a potential thaw in relations, especially after the Katikkiro’s public appeal for unity. However, Mpuuga’s latest move suggests the divide was far deeper than a ceremonial handshake could heal.
According to insiders close to the former NUP deputy president for Buganda, the formation of the Democratic Front signals the beginning of a larger political strategy potentially laying the foundation for a 2026 presidential run.
The party is being positioned as a reformist force, offering a disciplined and ethical leadership alternative to both the opposition NUP and the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
With strong grassroots appeal, especially in the central region, Mpuuga’s new political outfit is likely to reshape Uganda’s political dynamics ahead of the 2026 general elections.
With Mpuuga in the new party is Abed Bwanika, Michael Mabikke, Walter Lubega Mukaaku and Moses Kasibante among other bigwigs.
