The President of the Common Man’s Party (CMP), Mubarak Munyagwa Sserunga, popularly known as Mugati gwa Butter, has reaffirmed his commitment to championing transparency, equity, and genuine representation of ordinary citizens across Uganda as the country heads towards the 2026 general presidential and parliamentary elections.
Speaking during Sanyuka One on One on Tuesday, Munyagwa emphasised that his leadership faces undue criticism because of the growing popularity and influence of his party among grassroots communities.
“We are eight candidates, but I am the one being disrespected because they fear me. The other candidates are finding fault, especially with my party, the Common Man’s Party,” Munyagwa said.
Highlighting the dire conditions in some rural areas, Munyagwa expressed concern about the widening gap between government narratives and the realities faced by local citizens.
“In Kitagwenda District, poverty is extreme, yet people are made to believe that these communities have access to essential services. I am asking citizens to vote for a President who genuinely understands their problems and that is me,” he said.
The former Kawempe South Member of Parliament underscored his party’s guiding principles of fairness, accountability, and inclusive development. He noted that despite being a relatively new political movement, the Common Man’s Party has quickly gained recognition and trust among Ugandans.
“We believe resources should be managed transparently and shared fairly among all districts. Our party has been active for only one and a half months, yet our symbol is already recognized and understood by the people,” he said.
Munyagwa also called on voters to engage critically with the CMP’s manifesto, which he said provides practical and sustainable solutions to national challenges such as corruption, mismanagement, and resource wastage.
“Our manifesto must be read and interpreted as a whole everything you need is already included. We do not need to borrow money; instead, we must reduce wastage and fight corruption so that funds reach the people who need them,” he said.
At the heart of his campaign, Munyagwa outlined a wave of increasingly controversial proposals.
He has pledged to remove Swahili as Uganda’s national language and replace it with French, arguing that French will better position Uganda in global and regional integration, citing opportunities in Central Africa. He has also promised to nationalize the health and education sectors to ensure equitable access for all citizens.
In addition to that, Munyagwa has vowed to revisit the East African Community Protocol, citing what he describes as inequalities in regional trade that disadvantage Ugandans, particularly from Kenya and Tanzania.
His party’s emblem is a silver plate, locally known as Lusaniya, a large serving dish traditionally used in Ugandan households to bring families and friends together around a meal, often pilau and meat.
According to Munyagwa, the Lusaniya represents unity and inclusiveness, as well as opposition against greed and corruption, principles that the CMP intends to embed in the governance of the country
Munyagwa adds his name to the 2026 presidential ballot paper amid a highly competitive opposition force that is not limited to Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu popularly known as Bobi Wine of the National Unity Platform (NUP), Gen. Mugisha Muntu of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), Nathan Nandala Mafabi of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Elton Joseph Mabirizi of the Conservative Party (CP), Bulira Frank Kabinga of the Revolutionary People’s Party (RPP) and Robert Kasibante of the National Peasants Party (NPP).
All are seeking to retire incumbent President Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power since 1986.