Political analysts have cautioned that the National Unity Platform (NUP) could lose a significant portion of its support base to the newly launched Democratic Front if it does not swiftly reorganize its internal structures and strategy.
The Democratic Front, officially unveiled today, is led by Nyendo-Mukungwe MP Mathias Mpuuga—once a senior figure in NUP who fell out with party leader Robert Kyagulanyi.
The new political formation is expected to anchor its operations in Buganda, a region where NUP has traditionally enjoyed overwhelming support.
Analysts say the timing and target of the Democratic Front are strategic. With Mpuuga’s established political profile in Buganda, they warn that his new party could draw away NUP supporters and possibly even some of its leaders.
“If the Democratic Front is able to gain traction, it will affect NUP because they share the same catchment area—Buganda. That is where NUP has already been experiencing a slight decline in support,” said political analyst Isaac Atukunda in an interview with Nile Post.
Mpuuga previously served as NUP’s Deputy President for Buganda, a role that placed him at the heart of the party’s regional mobilization efforts.
His departure from the party followed months of internal disagreements, culminating in a very public fallout with Kyagulanyi.
“Mathias Mpuuga has been a key mobilizer for NUP in Buganda. As a charismatic figure, he is likely to walk away with not just sympathizers, but also some politicians from the region,” observed analyst Elias Tumwebaze.
The Democratic Front now becomes the latest entrant in Uganda’s evolving opposition landscape, joining the fray ahead of the 2026 general elections.
The party is in the process of establishing its leadership and grassroots structures, aiming to widen its influence and compete for national attention.
Reacting to the formation, National Resistance Movement (NRM) Director of Communications Emmanuel Dombo welcomed the development, describing it as a sign of Uganda’s growing democratic space under NRM rule.
However, he downplayed the potential impact of Mpuuga’s new party.
“Honourable Mpuuga will come with excess baggage,” said Dombo. “He will have to explain why he has moved through various political formations. By the time he finishes doing that, as NRM, we shall be far ahead.”
Mpuuga first broke away from NUP to form the Democratic Alliance, which has now transitioned into the Democratic Front.
Whether this latest political project will mature into a formidable force ahead of the 2026 elections remains uncertain, but analysts agree that it introduces a new dynamic that could reshape opposition politics—particularly in central Uganda.