ANT, PFF ink MoU for coordinated 2026 election campaign

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In a major step towards building a united front against the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), two opposition parties—the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) and the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF)—have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) ahead of the 2026 general elections.

The agreement, signed during a joint press conference at Hotel Africana in Kampala on Wednesday, July 2, was witnessed by top leaders of the two parties.

Kampala Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago, serving as the interim president of the PFF, Gen. Mugisha Muntu, leader of ANT, and former Serere Woman Member of Parliament Alice Alaso, the ANT national coordinator, among others, announced the pact as a symbol of opposition maturity and strategic collaboration.

PFF Party President Erias Lukwago speaking after signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Alliance for National Transformation Party on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at Hotel Africana. (Photo by Miriam Najjingo)

The party leaders said the signing marked the latest in a series of efforts by opposition figures to forge unity in their bid to challenge President Yoweri Museveni’s decades-long rule.

The MoU outlines a shared political agenda and operational framework to coordinate their efforts on what they described as a “non-violent defiance civil campaign” aimed at increasing public awareness about citizens’ economic, political, human, and personal rights in the lead-up to the 2026 polls.

“We strongly believe that elections in themselves, as organised by the NRM regime, cannot remove it—even when it is defeated,” Lukwago stated during the event.

He added, “The regime has been clearly defeated several times in elections, but every time they have refused to accept the results, instead robbing the opposition of their victories with impunity and violence.”

Lessons from the past

The two leaders jointly emphasised the importance of collective effort over isolated political ambition, warning against what they termed as “fortune hunters” in the opposition ranks.

These, they said, are individuals more focused on securing lucrative positions than genuinely pushing for democratic change.

“Our past experiences should teach us good lessons,” Alaso noted, adding that, “No single opposition party can single-handedly cause regime change. The time for political egos is over; what we need now is purposeful unity.”

Alliance for National Transformation Party President, Mugisha Muntu, during a meeting with PFF on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at Hotel Africana. (Photo by Miriam Najjingo)

Lukwago and Muntu criticised any opposition faction that claims it can independently bring about political change without broader collaboration, calling such stances “subversive to the struggle.”

Key highlights of the MoU

According to the document, ANT and PFF have agreed to:

Cooperate in the 2026 general election, including exploring the possibility of fielding joint candidates at all levels, from local council positions to parliamentary and presidential contests.

Collaborate on vote protection efforts and other election-related activities.

Jointly seek electoral cooperation with other political parties to create a unified opposition electoral platform.

Establish a Common Ground Council and a technical team to advance their objectives, with consensus as the foundation of all decision-making processes.

PFF and ANT leaders and members after signing the Memorandum of Understanding on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at Hotel Africana. (Photo by Miriam Najjingo)

Alaso said this structured approach is designed to foster clarity, coordination, and unity among the parties, while leaving the door open for broader alliances with other like-minded opposition formations.

The meeting also attracted former members of parliament who are vying for various positions under the two political parties.