Walter Lubega Mukaaku, the chairman of the Democratic Front (DF), has warned political parties against the continued suppression and marginalization of experienced and capable leaders.
Mukaaku made these remarks while addressing the media and DF supporters during a press conference at the party’s headquarters in Namirembe, Kampala.
“We shall defend all sidelined and disgruntled able and experienced leaders from other political parties to ensure their leadership skills are utilized to contribute to the democratic governance of our country,” Mukaaku stated.
He emphasized that the DF is committed to organizing transparent and fair elections for its flagbearers, contrasting this with the recent delegate conferences of the National Unity Platform (NUP) and the NRM, which he implied lacked transparency.
Mukaaku also commended the party’s electoral cgommission, led by Henry Lubowa, for its professional management of the expression of interest and nomination exercises held in Greater Masaka, Acholi, Bukedi, Teso, Busoga, and Lango regions.
Mukaaku, a veteran politician contesting as a parliamentary aspirant for Lubaga South in Kampala, noted that DF aspirants have warmly welcomed the party’s electoral management processes. Many aspirants, he said, returned their nomination forms with excitement, viewing the process as a new hope and a step toward political consensus in Uganda’s political landscape.
He praised the DF for uniting various democratic forces, including leaders from the NUP, Social Democratic Party, DP Bloc, and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). This collaboration led to the formation of the Democratic Alliance, which subsequently gave birth to the Democratic Front.
The DF deputy president from Eastern Uganda, Pascal Amuriat, revealed that the party is actively mobilizing and organizing supporters in Teso, Busoga, Acholi, Bukedi, Greater Masaka, and other regions nationwide.
Amuriat, who is also a parliamentary aspirant for Soroti City East, urged supporters to maintain party unity and reject discrimination based on color, sex, religion, or tribe. He emphasized working together to ensure the DF’s success in providing alternative governance for Ugandans.
Amuriat highlighted Article 21 of the party’s constitution, which grants every candidate the right to participate actively in electoral processes.
Henry Lubowa, the DF electoral commission chief and a parliamentary aspirant for Nansana Municipality, encouraged more people to vie for political positions. He announced that the party had extended the nomination exercise to accommodate all aspirants and reaffirmed the DF’s commitment to promoting women’s emancipation in Ugandan politics.
“People are demanding justice, so we must open up opportunities for them to achieve justice through their efforts in upholding democratic principles,” Lubowa said.
He noted that 1,520 aspirants had so far submitted expressions of interest and predicted that the number would grow significantly by the end of the following week.
