By Our Reporter:
When a section of loquacious Peoples Front for Freedom (PFF) politicians broke away from their former political establishment; Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party in 2024 to their new current political formation (PFF), the justification for that decision was that, there was an entry of ‘money’ into their former political establishment(FDC) branded as ‘dirty’ money, literally to mean that it was from an evil source; the National Resistance Movement (NRM’s) chairperson Gen Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
For record, that matter was subjected to an internal investigative process under the probity of the party elders led by late Dr. Frank Nabwiiso to which the claimants failed to present adducing evidence backing their allegations. Despite that, they went ahead to announce a break way as they launched into a new formation that they said would not condone any related behavior as such.
But at its earliest development stage, the PFF party has already been hit by chaos with a sharp dispute over money, intrigue and power struggle amongst its leaders, according to our reliable sources.
The born of disagreement according to the sources is the more than 2 billion shillings that was brought into the party to help it with navigating its national conference (delegates conference) that informed the appointment of its current leadership structure, but the mention of its source was declined.
The disputed funding which was brought in by the party’s’ secretary general and head of national mobilization/ spokesperson Ibrahim Nganda Ssemujju as a lobbyist, is said to have been donated by one senior NRM party member (whose names are withheld), which has since then sparked confusion and a sharp dispute amongst the leaders, according to the sources.
“To calm down the storm that would to lead into the tearing of this new party, leaders resolved to shelve the matter until when the ongoing 2026 elections have been taken out of the way”, a source said.
MPs Mwijukye, Namanya and others Abandons PFF Party.
It has emerged from the sources close to the Katonga based party that a number of Members of Parliament (MPs) that were among the initiators of its promotional campaign and visibility have since its official approval by the Uganda Electoral Commission (EC), abandoned it, with some retreating back to the FDC, while others now considering to run as independents in the forthcoming election.
Sources told this website that the Buhweju MP Francis Mwijukye and Naboth Namanya of Rubaabo county in Rukungiri are notable among those that consider to run as independents in 2026 elections, following the hostility of the ground. “Mwijukye is facing it rough in Buhweju, people have failed to embrace PFF and now is considering to run as independent”
With MP Namanya, sources say that Gen. Jim Muhwezi, Gen. Henry Tumukunde and NRM, are neutralizing his ground while capitalizing on the confusion that was created by themselves against the FDC, to recruit almost all the key figures there who were loyal to the FDC and entire opposition.
For record, Gen Tumukunde is contesting for Member of Parliament for Rubaabo-Rukungiri Municipality on NRM party ticket in the forthcoming elections, having returned to the party after suffering a defeat in 2021 elections when he contested for presidency against president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
Other MPs such as Denis Onekalit (Kitgum Municipality), Anna Adeke (Soroti city), etc, had gone back to the FDC party, while Dr. Moses Batuwa (Jinja City) had crossed to the National Unity Platform (NUP), hence throwing the meteoric PFF party growth expectations in crippleness.
Intrigue, Power Struggle Hit the Party.
Sources say that some party members are not happy with how the positions were apportioned, which has ever since sparked internal division and concerns of intrigue, although this does not publicly play out.
“Salaam Musumba had wanted to be the secretary general and Harold Kaija to retain his position. Birigwa was the chairman from onset but Wafula Ogutu is the one who signed on the PFF Cards, Birigwa was not happy with it”, a source emphasized.
PFF Struggling to Field Candidates.
It has emerged from the sources that the dark blue and white colored party is struggling to find candidates to lift its flag on various positions across the country, although its leaders had from onset upon leaving Najjanankumbi, portrayed themselves as politically prominent figures with a clout, national character and appeal.
“They only managed to get 70 people interested to run for MP on their ticket, and because of the poor quality of the candidates, they decided to extend the deadline for the process”, a source insisted.
PFF Leaders Break Silence.
When contacted by this website about the matter, MP Namanya neither denied nor confirmed.” Just find out from the one who told you. When he tells you that I had abandoned PFF, write that, when he tells you that I did not abandon PFF, also write that”, the Rubaabo county legislator responded.
Our phone calls went un answered and un returned when we contacted MP Mwijukye to comment on the matter. Our efforts to seek a comment from the party’s spokesperson and secretary general Ssemujju also did not yield any fruit by the time we had compiled this news report.
