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Former Leader of Opposition, Wafula Oguttu and other leading coordinators of PFF member registration after the party was gazetted. (Photo by Milton Niinga)
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By Milton Niinga
The Electoral Commission (EC) of Uganda, led by Justice Simon Byabakama, has gazetted Dr. Kizza Besigye's People's Front for Freedom (PFF) party, paving the way for it to participate alongside other opposition political parties—just six months before the 2026 general elections.
PFF emerges ahead of a pool of five other political parties still waiting to be cleared by the EC. These include the National Foundation Party (NFP), the National Revival Coalition (NRC), the National Agrarian Party (NAP), Shine Uganda (SU), Uganda Prosperity Party (UPP), People Power Front (PPF), and the National Economic and Redemption Party (NERP), all of which had reserved names with the EC but had never been officially gazetted.
Simon Byabakama gazettes PFF party to compete ahead of 2026 general elections. (Photo by Milton Niinga)
According to General Notice No. 1346 of 2025, published in the Uganda Gazette Extraordinary on May 16, 2025, Justice Byabakama stated that the application can be inspected at the Electoral Commission Head Office, Plot 1-3/5, Seventh Street, Industrial Area, Kampala, P.O. Box 22678, Kampala.
“Notice is hereby given by the Electoral Commission, in accordance with the Political Parties and Organisations Act, Chapter 178 Section 6(a), of an application by the People's Front for Freedom (PFF) party,” said Byabakama in a signed public notice.
“It shall bear the name PFF at the address: Plot 6, Katonga Road, P.O. Box 29628, Kampala. PFF’s symbol is a mobile phone handset, and its colours are white with a stripe of royal blue. The slogan is Freedom for All – All for Freedom,” he noted.
A PFF supporter making a sign of their signature symbol of a phone during the launch of registration exercise on at Katonga Road offices in Kampala. (Photo by Milton Niinga)
However, he warned that any person with grounds to oppose the application should do so within 14 days from the date of publication of this gazette notice by lodging an objection with the Electoral Commission.
“The party's symbol is a mobile phone handset with its screen displaying the initials ‘PFF’ and dial buttons engraved with the words ‘FREEDOM FOR ALL’ on a white background framed in a circular royal blue stripe,” he stated.
Byabakama explained that the colours reflect justice, reliability, and trustworthiness, with white signifying peace, truth, and clean leadership.
The PFF, led by former FDC president and detained chief promoter Dr. Kizza Besigye, has long been at the forefront of advocating for democratic reforms and good governance. Besigye first contested for the presidency in 2001 as a Reform Agenda independent candidate, challenging National Resistance Movement (NRM) chairman and President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. Having contested four times unsuccessfully, Besigye is being positioned by PFF party promoters to make another bid in 2026. However, the move has been delayed by the EC's registration process of the party.
Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago speaking about the PFF registration after EC cleared it at Plot 6 Katonga Road offices on Monday. (Photo by Milton Niinga)
FDC rebranded
Kampala Lord Mayor and interim party president Erias Lukwago, when contacted, said that the party had already sent coordinators to begin mass recruitment ahead of the 2026 general elections.
“It is never too late. Our people are on the ground mobilizing because this is a rebrand of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party, which has been left frustrated at Najjanankumbi,” he said.
“We are, however, still saddened because Besigye and his personal aide, Hajj Obeid Lutale, remain in prison on fabricated treason charges before the Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court. But God willing, they shall be free soon,” he added optimistically.
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