The secretary general of newly launched political formation, the Common Man's Party (CMP), Moses Bigirwa has said they are positioning themselves as a political force aiming to bridge what he described as a long-standing gap in Uganda’s political landscape.
Speaking on Sanyuka Television, Bigirwa, said CMP will challenge the status quo by rejecting what he called capitalist-driven politics that have defined Uganda’s existing political formations.
“Our policy is simple: it’s us who decide. It’s public knowledge that there has been a gap in Uganda’s political landscape, and that gap must be filled. All existing parties have operated under capitalist interests,” Bigirwa stated.
The CMP was officially launched this week by former Kawempe South Member of Parliament, Mubarak Munyagwa.
CMP has since announced its intention to contest for political positions in the upcoming 2026 general elections.
While the party has yet to unveil a formal election strategy, Bigirwa emphasised that plans are underway and will be communicated in due time.
“We unveiled the Common Man’s Party yesterday, and we will inform Uganda of the steps we plan to take. Right now, our focus is on ourselves,” he said.
The CMP enters Uganda’s political scene amid a wave of newly formed opposition groups, all positioning themselves to challenge President Museveni, who has been in power since 1986.
Just weeks prior, the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), founded by veteran opposition figure Dr. Kizza Besigye, was launched and officially gazetted, with plans to field a presidential candidate in 2026.
However, the rapid emergence of new opposition parties has sparked concerns about fragmentation within the opposition, a dynamic many observers believe could ultimately benefit President Museveni by diluting electoral strength.
In response, Bigirwa defended the proliferation of political parties, describing it as a positive step toward Uganda’s democratic growth.
“Parties play an important role- they train, nurture, and prepare leaders. Without proper preparation, many people step into leadership roles before they are truly ready,” he said.