Katonga faction dangles mobile phone in new party

The faction on Tuesday submitted an application to the Electoral Commission (EC) to reserve the name "People's Front for Freedom" and a symbol of a mobile phone for its envisaged political organisation.

The Katonga-based faction of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has taken a decisive step towards establishing a new political party.

The faction on Tuesday submitted an application to the Electoral Commission (EC) to reserve the name "People's Front for Freedom" and a symbol of a mobile phone for its envisaged political organisation.

The proposed party plans to adopt royal blue and white as its colours.

"We have submitted the name of the new vehicle that can transform this country, People's Front for Freedom," said Kenneth Opoka, a former FDC chairperson for Agago District and leader of the faction.

A 12-member delegation, including prominent figures like Kenneth Opoka, former Leader of Opposition in Parliament Wafula Oguttu, and former Kampala Woman MP candidate Ingrid Turinawe, delivered the application to the EC on Monday afternoon.

This move marks a crucial phase in formalizing their political aspirations following deepening internal divisions within the FDC.

Speaking to the press, Ingrid Turinawe, the FDC women's league leader and mobiliser, expressed optimism about the new party.

"We'll be issuing new cards, new materials, new hope. We are refreshing, refocusing, and reloading," she said.

Despite the presence of key figures from the Katonga faction, notable politicians associated with the group, such as Dr Kizza Besigye, Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, and Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, were absent from the delegation.

The faction’s application requests the reservation of the name "People's Front for Freedom," along with the royal blue and white colours and a mobile phone symbol.

The group aims to carve out a distinct identity within Uganda’s political landscape, currently dominated by established parties such as the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and the main FDC faction.

Julius Mucunguzi, the head of public relations at the Electoral Commission, confirmed receipt of the application and stated that it would undergo the necessary legal processes.

"The application will be reviewed following the required procedures before any final decision is made," Mucunguzi said.

According to Section 7(1) of the Political Parties and Organizations Act, an application to register a political party or organization must be submitted to the EC with a full description of the party’s symbols, slogans, and colours.

The Act also mandates that within 30 days of receiving an application, the EC must publish a notice in the Uganda Gazette, inviting objections to the party's name, aims, or constitution.

Any objections must be filed within 14 days of publication.

The law further stipulates that the EC cannot register any political party whose name, symbol, slogan, or colours closely resemble those of an already registered party or whose aims and objectives contravene existing laws.

This move by the Katonga faction signals a potential shift in Uganda’s political dynamics, as the group seeks to establish itself as a new force ahead of future elections.

If the registration is approved, the political landscape could witness further fragmentation, introducing yet another player into the already complex arena.