I am Not an Enslaved Member of NUP, Mpuuga Says as he Unveils Focus of the Democratic Alliance .
“I can speak for myself and today am speaking about the Democratic Alliance not NUP, I actually don’t have time to invest in it because it has leaders to do what they want. I am not an enslaved member of the National Unity Platform.” Hon. Mathias Mpuuga the Former Opposition Leader has expounded on the purpose of the Democratic Alliance, Monday in Kampala, that also aims at driving civic space ahead of 2026 general elections.
There are people who become slaves of their platforms but when one elects a fresh platform, it serves as a form of rescue groups and individuals, that one thing can act differently. “I respect it. The nature of African politics is such that you must be thinking everyday on what works, the African political platforms have not fully formed to the level that they can have an orientation that is ideologically permanent even if some of us have been in pursuit of permanent ways of managing public affairs,” said Mpuuga.
During a press engagement, he noted that the Democratic Alliance (DA) remains a civic platform because if there is to be partyism it will deter others from being part of the conversation offered by the Democratic Alliance, therefore if everybody is doing nothing it doesn’t mean we also do nothing. Public structures between parties and groups should be a part of the conversation.
In lengthy comments, Mpuuga, the national coordinator of the Democratic Alliance, described that the Democratic Alliance is not a new political party, but rather a pressure group aimed at driving change in the country. Offering that big tent with constituent members having a legitimate right and civic duty to eventually involve in the political platform when the call is theirs with in the political time table.
“Presser groups and platforms are never meant to be permanent, they serve a purpose whether served or not they have to be extinguished. Sticking on something that doesn’t work then one doesn’t know what he or she is doing.”
Asked about moving from one party to another, Mpuuga said apart from Kyagulanyi who is has just entered the political arena, most of the pwerful political figures have been into several political parties right from the president to others.
Mpuuga's plans includes traveling across the country, educating people about his proposed electoral reforms ahead of the 2026 general elections. His reform agenda is ambitions, with proposed amendments to the Constitution, the Presidential Elections Act, and the Electoral Commission Act, among others.
The Democratic Alliance was officially launched on December 6, 2024, with Mpuuga emphasizing the need for unity, electoral reforms, and democratic governance. The formation of the Alliance has sparked mixed reactions, with some criticizing Mpuuga's move as an attempt to salvage his reputation.
Mpuuga's vision for the Democratic Alliance is to create a civic platform that will later evolve into an electoral platform. He believes that the current opposition is in a "deep slumber" and that his new formation will fill the void and challenge President Museveni's nearly four-decade rule.
Mr. Lubega, Mr. Mabikke, Mr. Lubowa, and Owek Nakumusana, accompanied Mpuuga. While some have criticized Mpuuga's move, others see the Democratic Alliance as a beacon of hope for Ugandans seeking credible alternatives to the current political framework.
As Uganda approaches its next electoral cycle, the emergence of Mpuuga's Democratic Alliance signals a new chapter in the opposition's struggle to challenge the status quo. Whether this coalition can overcome internal divisions and rally Ugandans remains to be seen.
