With just 60 days left before the legal window for verifying signatures expires, the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) faces uncertainty over its registration, as some of its supporters have withdrawn their endorsements amid claims of intimidation.
The party’s promoters had submitted signatures from across the country, meeting the legal threshold for registration.
However, interim national chairman Wasswa Birigwa now says that at least 10 percent of their supporters have since retracted their signatures, allegedly under pressure from government security officials.
Uganda’s electoral laws require a political party seeking registration to collect and submit signatures from at least one-third of all districts.
The Electoral Commission (EC) then undertakes a verification process to confirm their authenticity.
However, six months after submission, PFF’s registration remains in doubt.
Birigwa claims that individuals posing as EC officials visited supporters, subjecting them to questioning that led some to withdraw their endorsement.
“People claiming to be from the Electoral Commission went to various districts, reaching out to those who had signed for our registration. Some, fearing repercussions, withdrew their signatures, while others have stood their ground,” Birigwa said.
The EC has not publicly responded to these allegations.
The uncertainty surrounding PFF’s registration comes as the Electoral Commission’s roadmap for the 2025/2026 elections gains momentum.
The process begins mid-year with special interest group elections, a stage in which many political organizations seek participation.
For PFF, which has been preparing to field candidates in all elective positions, the delays pose a significant setback.
“We believe this treatment is malicious and unfair. We are a legitimate political group preparing for elections in good faith, yet we are being frustrated at every turn,” Birigwa lamented.
Amid the risk of non-registration, PFF promoters recently held a strategic retreat, resolving to collaborate with other opposition groups rather than compete against them.
“We shall work with other political organizations and avoid unnecessary competition. We are reaching out to different parties to agree on a common front based on shared principles,” Birigwa said.
With time running out, PFF’s next steps will be critical in determining whether it secures registration or must find alternative ways to maintain its political relevance.
