Lieutenant General Henry Tumukunde has criticised opposition political leaders, accusing them of inconsistency, lack of sacrifice and compromised credibility, which he says has diminished their appeal to voters.
Tumukunde made the remarks during a press briefing at his residence in Buyanja Sub-county, Rukungiri Municipality, where he reflected on his own political journey and assessed the state of opposition politics in the country.
Drawing on his experience as a former opposition figure, Tumukunde said he understands opposition politics better than many of those currently leading it.
Tumukunde, who in 2021 challenged Museveni's stranglehold on power as an independent candidate while seeking the backing of the opposition, claimed that some opposition politicians receive support from government in various forms, a situation he argued undermines their independence and public trust.
According to Tumukunde, opposition politics requires resilience and a willingness to make personal sacrifices, qualities he said are lacking among many current leaders.
He noted that he spent more than two decades in opposition politics, long before some of today’s prominent figures assumed that role.
“If you don’t have the resilience to sacrifice, you have no story to tell the public,” Tumukunde said, arguing that voters can easily distinguish between genuine opposition actors and those he described as opportunistic.
He further accused some opposition leaders of lacking firm ideological positions, describing them as “political chameleons” who shift their stance depending on circumstances.
In particular, he singled out Democratic Party president Norbert Mao, claiming that his public rhetoric masks contradictory political loyalties.
Tumukunde said such inconsistencies make it difficult for opposition leaders to communicate a clear and convincing message to voters, ultimately weakening their calls for political change.
“There is a great singer called Chameleon, so some politicians have turned into political chameleons,” Tumukunde said, adding that mixed signals within the opposition confuse voters and erode confidence.
He urged Ugandans to critically assess opposition promises, arguing that many opposition parties and leaders lack the seriousness and capacity to make the sacrifices necessary to deliver meaningful change.
Tumukunde concluded by calling on political actors to treat politics as a serious public service rather than a tool for personal gain.
He noted that Rukungiri has historically been regarded as an opposition stronghold and stressed that leaders seeking support there must present clear, principled and substantive messages.
