MUGABE R
Supporters of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) in Rukungiri District have expressed dissatisfaction with senior party leaders, accusing them of betraying the party and contributing to its poor performance in the recently concluded general elections.
Rukungiri District has historically been regarded as a stronghold of the opposition in Uganda, having consistently produced opposition leaders for key positions such as the Rukungiri Municipality Member of Parliament and the Mayorship. However, in the most recent elections, the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) swept all top positions in the district.
The PFF District Secretary for Information and Publicity, Innocent Rubarondesa, attributed the party’s struggles to the arrest and absence of the party founder, retired Colonel Dr. Kiiza Besigye. He described the arrest as a deliberate move aimed at weakening and sidelining the opposition. Rubarondesa further blamed the party’s poor showing on what he termed as greed among some senior leaders, alleging that they connived with the government during Besigye’s absence, a move he said demoralized supporters at the grassroots.
The PFF District Chairperson, Aloysius Mugarura, cited voter bribery, torture, and alleged manipulation of the electoral process as key factors that affected the party’s performance. He claimed these actions occurred openly and said the party was considering legal options to challenge the outcome of the elections.
In response, the NRM Chairperson for Western Division in Rukungiri Municipality, Micheal Byarugaba, dismissed the allegations, crediting the NRM’s victory to effective grassroots mobilization. He said the ruling party strengthened its support by organizing voters into well-coordinated structures that resonated with local communities. Byarugaba also noted that frequent changes in opposition party branding and leadership weakened public trust among voters.
Meanwhile, the Resident District Commissioner for Rukungiri, Buroni Kikanshemeza, said the election results reflected a loss of confidence in opposition parties by the electorate. He attributed the NRM’s success to strategic nationwide campaigns led by President Yoweri Museveni, which he said reinforced the party’s appeal across the country.
