KAMPALA.
Government has finally issued a certificate to People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) ,a political party associated with jailed veteran politician Dr Kizza Besigye .
PFF ,which has its headquarters at Katonga Road in Kampala’s upscale Nakasero suburb can now officially operate as a political party in Uganda, participate in elections, and engage in political activities on equal footing with other recognised parties.
According to Ms Salaamu Musumba, a senior official in PFF , the Electoral Commission raised no objections and the certificate was handed to top party officials on Thursday.
“This marks a very significant milestone in our journey as a registered political entity,” she said
Speaking shortly after receiving the registration certificate , Erias Lukwago , Kampala City mayor and the interim PFF party president said :
“This certificate marks an important achievement . Katonga has existed and will continue to exist . We already had our agenda –we were not waiting for this paper to begin our mission ,” he said .
“This is a value addition ,not the trigger. We already have an action –packed programme we are now rolling out ,” Mr Lukwago said
The PFF traces its origins to October 2021, when a group of opposition figures led by Dr Besigye launched it as a pressure platform to advocate for political and social change.
At its formation, the Front brought together leaders from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), JEEMA, the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), and other opposition-leaning actors, with an explicit aim of uniting democratic forces to challenge the status quo.
Initially conceived as a citizen mobilisation movement rather than an electoral vehicle, the PFF operated without formal party registration.
It campaigned on issues of accountability, human rights, and resistance to what it described as a militarised and extractive state under the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government.
Its red-themed branding and defiant rhetoric mirrored earlier formations like “Walk to Work” and “People’s Government,” both spearheaded by Besigye.
While the Front held rallies and public discussions, some of its activities were repeatedly blocked by security forces.
The decision to register PFF as a political party marks a shift from a purely activist platform to an organisation intending to field candidates and shape electoral outcomes.
It also comes amid growing fragmentation and realignment within the opposition, including divisions within Forum for Democratic Party (FDC) and ongoing debates about strategy ahead of the 2026 general elections.
With registration complete, PFF joins Uganda’s expanding list of political parties, now numbering over 26. A few days ago, former Leader of Opposition and Nyendo-Mukungwe legislator Mathias Mpuuga ,who last year quit National Unity Platform(NUP) unveiled.