The President of the Common Man’s Party (CMP), Mubarak Munyagwa Sserunga, popularly known by his supporters as ‘Mugati gwa butter,’ has declared that the his party represents “a new force” in the nation’s political landscape and poses a serious challenge to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Speaking during Sanyuka One on One on Tuesday, Munyagwa argued that CMP’s strength lies in its connection with ordinary Ugandans.
“The Common Man’s Party is a new force, and the NRM has every reason to be concerned because our message resonates with the people. We are deeply connected with the people,” he said.
The former Kawempe South Member of Parliament credited the relationship he shares with four time presidential candidate Kizza Besigye, describing it as a “covenant of blood.”
“Dr. Besigye and I share a covenant of blood. You cannot claim to be in Besigye’s party and not support Munyagwa,” he said, reiterating his earlier pledge to release Besigye who has been in detention for nearly a year, within 24 hours if elected to the presidency.
In a pointed critique of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), Munyagwa questioned the party’s current political strategy and leadership direction.
“Politically, they’re looking weak. A big party like PFF has no presidential candidate, yet they want to back a smaller one,” he noted.
“PFF has only one path left, which is to support the Common Man’s Party. Two years ago, I started this journey and reached out to Hon. Ssemujju, told him I was standing, and sought their support,” he explained.
Despite a short campaign season ahead, Munyagwa extended an open invitation to all Ugandans who share CMP’s vision of empowerment and unity.
“Anyone who wants to join the Common Man’s Party is welcome. The campaign is short, but let’s move forward and fight together,” he urged.
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 party officials, 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 Revolutionary People’s Party (RPP), and Robert Kasibante of the National People’s Party (NPP).
All are seeking to retire incumbent President Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power since 1986.