Bigirwa and Munyagwa sharing a light moment during a recent function
By Joseph Kiggundu
KAMPALA. The Common Man’s Party (CMP), led by comical opposition figure Mubarak Munyagwa, has indefinitely suspended its Secretary General, Moses Bigirwa, over allegations of substantial misconduct.
This reflects a deepening emerging leadership crisis within one of Uganda’s young opposition parties formed in lead up to the January 15General Election .
In a letter dated November 5, 2026, and received by the Electoral Commission on Friday, November 6, the party said the decision was taken by an Extraordinary National Executive Committee meeting pending investigations.
“By Resolution of the Extraordinary National Executive Committee adopted on 5th November, 2026, the substantive Secretary General was suspended indefinitely, pending investigations into allegations of substantial misconduct,” the letter reads.
Although the letter does not identify the suspended official by name, Bigirwa has been serving as the party’s Secretary General.
The party announced the appointment of two acting officials to assume his responsibilities.
“Mrs Ropan Proscovia has been appointed as Acting Secretary General of the party in charge of research and Mr Semmindi Asadullah has been appointed as the Acting Secretary General of the party in charge of administration and the party’s liaisons officer with immediate effect,” the letter states.
The party cited Section 10(4) of the Political Parties and Organisations Act, Cap 178, in notifying the Electoral Commission of the leadership changes.
The suspension comes just days after Bigirwa publicly complained about the prolonged absence of party president Munyagwa from party activities following his unsuccessful presidential bid in the 2026 general elections.
On November 4, Bigirwa said Munyagwa had not returned to the party headquarters after taking leave and that efforts to contact him had reportedly been unsuccessful.
He said the president’s absence had affected party operations and raised concerns about the party’s leadership and organisational structures.
The latest development raises questions about whether Bigirwa’s suspension is connected to his public criticism of Munyagwa, although the party’s letter does not specify the alleged misconduct or establish any such connection.
CMP was officially launched in July 2025 after the rebranding of the Uganda Economic Party, with Munyagwa as president, Bigirwa as Secretary General and Proscovia Ropani as Deputy Secretary General.
The party entered the 2026 elections promising to champion the interests of ordinary Ugandans and challenge the country’s established political formations.
It remains unclear whether Bigirwa was given an opportunity to respond to the allegations before his suspension or when the investigations will be concluded.
Bigirwa’s response to the suspension and Munyagwa’s position on the latest leadership changes were not available at the time of writing.