DP to front candidate against Museveni in 2026

The Democratic Party has an existing cooperation agreement with the ruling NRM government but Mukasa Mbidde says it does not bar them from fielding candidates

Democratic Party (DP) vice president Mukasa Mbidde has revealed that the party will front candidates at all levels in the 2026 general elections, including the president.

This is despite the cooperation agreement entered into between DP under its leader Norbert Mao and the ruling government.

Mr Mao has since taken up a Cabinet position as Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister in Mr Museveni's government.

"We don't have any commitment that stops us from fronting a political candidate," said Mbidde, who was speaking to the Nile Post about the party's plans.

He denied having any alliances that deprived DP of its powers to engage in politics affairs.

According to the former EALA legislator, the same way Members of Parliament cooperated and formed a Shadow Cabinet is the same way DP formed a cooperation on four major areas.

This agreement he says, "has no effect on the amendment of our constitution, it doesn't have any effect on amendment of our processes and procedures of a political organisation for example processes and procedures leading to establishment of a candidature for presidential elections".

He said the issue of sole candidature has never been debated and is "never part of the cooperation agreement".

The party is yet to role our the national road map which will be followed to elect new leadership ahead of the 2026 general elections.