The Secretary General of the Common Man’s Party (CMP), Moses Bigirwa, has reaffirmed the party’s commitment to an issue-based campaign centered on integrity, inclusiveness, and the empowerment of ordinary Ugandans.
Speaking on NBS Barometer on Tuesday, Bigirwa acknowledged the logistical and financial challenges the CMP faces ahead of its first general election.
“The Common Man’s Party faced several challenges leading up to our nomination, but we were finally nominated. We are running an issue-based campaign — a campaign anchored on real issues that affect the ordinary Ugandan,” he said.
Chaired by former Kawempe South MP Mubarak Munyagwa Sserunga, popularly known as “Mugati Gwa Butter,” the CMP has quickly emerged as one of the most talked-about new political movements.
The party enters the 2026 elections alongside other newly formed opposition groups vying to unseat President Museveni, who has been in power since 1986.
Despite being only three months old, Bigirwa said the CMP has made significant strides in organizing at the grassroots level, though resource constraints remain a challenge.
“Of course, the CMP is facing resource challenges. We’re only three months old and have limited funding. Meanwhile, according to our research, the NRM spends up to Shs2 billion every day, while the NUP spends between Shs300 million and Shs500 million. We are operating on a shoestring budget, but with a clear vision,” he said.
At the heart of the CMP’s manifesto is a bold set of policy proposals aimed at reshaping Uganda’s political and economic trajectory.
These include plans to replace Swahili with French as Uganda’s national language to enhance regional and global integration, particularly with French-speaking Central African nations.
The manifesto also calls for nationalizing the health and education sectors to ensure equitable access to quality services for all Ugandans, and for revisiting the East African Community (EAC) Protocol, which the party says currently disadvantages Ugandan traders, particularly in dealings with Kenya and Tanzania.
Bigirwa highlighted the symbolic importance of the party’s emblem, a silver plate locally known as Lusanyiya, a traditional Ugandan serving dish used to bring families and communities together.
“Our party symbol, the Lusanyiya, is the most striking and meaningful among all political parties. It represents unity, inclusiveness, and our fight against greed and corruption. It’s about sharing, about every Ugandan having a seat at the table — not just the privileged few,” he said.