The president of the Common Man’s Party (CMP) and former Kawempe South Member of Parliament, Mubarak Munyagwa, has made healthcare reform the centrepiece of his 2026 presidential campaign, vowing to introduce a compulsory national health insurance scheme for all Ugandans.
Speaking after picking up his presidential nomination forms on Wednesday, Munyagwa said his proposed scheme would require every Ugandan to contribute Shs20,000 annually, guaranteeing access to free medical services across the country.
“Health is a right, not a privilege,” Munyagwa emphasized. “This scheme will ensure that no Ugandan is left behind because of their inability to pay for healthcare.”
The former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) legislator also outlined broader policy shifts he would undertake if elected, including Uganda’s withdrawal from the East African Community, which he said has failed to deliver meaningful benefits to ordinary citizens.
“The first thing I would do is withdraw Uganda from the East African Community,” he said. “This bloc has offered no tangible benefits to the ordinary Ugandan. Our focus must be on policies that directly improve the lives of our citizens.”
Munyagwa, who quit FDC in June 2024 over what he called “poor management,” said he would not join the National Unity Platform (NUP), which he accused of being “poorly managed” and driven by the personal interests of its leadership.
“I have spent years in opposition parties that promised change but delivered little,” he said. “Ugandans deserve leadership that works for the people, not personal interests.”
