Besigye’s party drops out of Uganda 2026 presidential race

Uganda’s People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), a political party linked to opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye, has announced it will not field a presidential candidate in the 2026 general election.

The party’s decision comes after Besigye, the chairperson of the Council of Eminent Persons in the party, together with his aide, Obeid Lutale, were abducted from Nairobi, Kenya on November 16, 2024.

The two were deported to Kampala, where they face charges of illegal possession of firearms, ammunition and treachery.

The case has drawn criticism from government opponents, including opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, and rights groups.

The party’s Secretary General and Spokesperson Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda told reporters on Monday that the decision was intended to support a unified opposition front against president Yoweri Museveni of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party.  

President Museveni, in power for nearly four decades is seeking re-election in the upcoming polls.

Ssemujju confirmed that PFF is holding talks with the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) party, led by Maj Gen (Rtd) Mugisha Muntu and the National Unity Platform (NUP) party, headed by Bobi Wine.

"The party, PFF, has made this decision in the broader interest of building a single stronger freedom-seeking force that should steer the country throughout this turbulent political period and hold it together after the continued disappearance and abduction of citizens, including candidates, is turning the 2026 elections into a militarised campaign,” stated Ssemujju.

The agreement between ANT and PFF was signed on July 2, 2025 stating, “the forthcoming elections are designed by Museveni and his family to be the worst in our history.”

Ssemujju confirmed that the party has already held at least two meetings with NUP to discuss the possibility of a joint presidential candidate.

He also claimed that the Electoral Commission (EC) had been compromised by military influence.

However, EC spokesperson Julius Mucunguzi refuted his claims, calling them baseless.

“The Commission has constitutional powers to adjust the election roadmap, when necessary,” Mucunguzi said.

Both Gen Muntu and Bobi Wine have secured presidential nomination forms to contest under their parties in the January election.

NUP submitted its signatures for verification last week, while ANT's submission was rejected by the EC due to insufficient signatures.

Dr. Besigye, a four-time presidential contender, will miss the ballot for a second time after sitting out in 2021. He and his aide remain remanded at Luzira Prison on treason charges.