Uganda’s political opposition is undergoing a quiet but significant transformation, one that, according to some candidates and sitting legislators, is driven less by ideology and more by personal interest. The once passionate struggle for regime change appears to be fading, replaced by internal competition for parliamentary seats and financial gain.
Nakawa West MP aspirant Burora Herbert Anderson captures this shift bluntly:
“We have always had people in opposition with different mindsets. Opposition has become personalised and is now treated like a business, with everyone focused on gaining more seats in Parliament.”
In his view, the current political fights are no longer rooted in the desire to change leadership but are instead about who controls the most parliamentary seats — and by extension, who accesses more resources.
“The fights in politics you see now are not about a change of regime but rather about the number of seats in parliament. Although change may not be possible, the parliamentary seats are, because they are eyeing money.”
He adds that the pursuit of power has become transactional, with many politicians seeing politics as an investment with expected returns.
“Having or fronting a presidential candidate has no direct returns, but MPs in parliament do receive returns. The challenge we face today is that politics has become a business, which explains why manifestos no longer carry much weight.”
This growing commercialisation of politics has sparked debate within the opposition itself. Some analysts argue that this shift dilutes the very essence of opposition politics, which is supposed to be rooted in accountability, policy alternatives, and citizen representation.
However, others within the opposition reject the idea that the movement has lost direction. EliasNalukoola, MP for Kawempe North, believes the political landscape is simply evolving — and that competition should not be mistaken for disunity.
“Politics is dynamic over time. Kizza Besigye was an opposition leader, he left the FDC for the PFP, along with other leaders he used to work with.”
Nalukoola also dismisses calls for the NUP to allocate certain parliamentary seats to other opposition parties in the name of unity.
“As NUP, we want the presidential seat; we are not interested in only MP and local government seats.”
He insists that politics is inherently fluid, with movement between parties reflecting strategy rather than betrayal.
“Many political leaders switching parties now are merely making excuses, as most had already transitioned earlier.”