The Democratic Front (DF), led by Mathias Mpuuga, faces major challenges after Uganda’s 2026 Presidential and Parliamentary elections. While the party did not field a presidential candidate, it had 88 candidates vying for parliamentary seats. However, most DF candidates lost, including Mpuuga, who was defeated in his Nyendo/Mukungwe Municipality race by NUP’s Gyaviira Ssebiina Lubowa.

DF Party Struggles After Election Defeats

Mpuuga, along with other DF leaders like Michael Mabikke, Samuel Lubega Mukaaku, and Juliet Kakande, all lost their parliamentary races. Mpuuga blamed “syndicated ballot stuffing” by NRM and NUP for these defeats. He claimed that both parties exploited the system to undermine DF candidates.

However, analysts like Siraje Nsanja argue that it is too early to dismiss DF. “The party is still new, and we must see its performance in local council elections,” he said. Nsanja stressed that DF’s leaders need to focus on media engagement to stay relevant and address the concerns of ordinary Ugandans.

Mpuuga Critiques the Electoral Process

Mpuuga raised concerns about the Electoral Commission’s conduct of the election. He criticized the failure of the Biometric Voter Verification Kits, which caused delays and confusion. Mpuuga argued that the system’s failure led to delays of up to 5 hours, resulting in low voter turnout, which he estimated at less than 30%.

Mpuuga also accused the EC of allowing fraud through manual voter verification. He claimed that this process enabled multiple voting and ballot stuffing, benefiting NRM and NUP candidates. According to Mpuuga, these fraudulent actions occurred in areas like Masaka, Dokolo, and Amuru.

DF Focuses on Local Politics Moving Forward

Despite the losses, DF spokesperson Moses Kasibante remains hopeful. He pointed out that all 88 parliamentary candidates stayed committed, and no one defected to another party. “Our candidates pushed through to the end,” Kasibante said. “We are committed to building a strong party for peaceful leadership change.”

The DF is now focusing on the upcoming local government elections. Kasibante believes that DF’s candidates for local offices will perform well and help build the party’s future.