'Opposition needs a 'miracle' to win 2026 General Election'

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The Opposition lacks a clear strategy to win the 2026 General Election, Bukoto Central MP Richard Ssebamala has said.

Speaking during a media discourse at Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) offices in Kawempe, Kampala on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, Ssebamala said it will be a miracle for the Opposition to win the 2026 General Election.

“We have a debt burden of about shillings 120 trillion, and this money has to be paid. Incidentally, no Opposition political party is talking about this. They are only focusing their energy on removing President Yoweri Museveni. So, if you remove him, what's next? You remember when people said they wanted Yusuf Lule. How long did he stay in power? So, if we are to take power as Opposition, we need to come up with a clear strategy beyond sloganeering,” Ssebamala said.

Apart from lacking a clear strategy, Ssebamala said the Opposition political parties, including the Democratic Party (DP) to which he belongs, are also broke.

“All Opposition parties have no money, and yet they need it to manage their affairs. How will they run the campaigns? So, this is why I am saying we are not ready for the election,” Ssebamala said.

Opposition pitfalls

Ssebamala noted that all Opposition political parties have concentrated their efforts in the Buganda region, giving advantage to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) to dominate in other regions.

“We need to take our visibility to other regions so that the people understand our message, but we haven’t done this. NRM has gained momentum in Acholi, where we had some support. Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) was strong in Lango, but it is stuck in leadership struggles and it is most likely that those supporting Jimmy Akena will run as independent candidates because Peter Walubiri has been gazetted as the party president. So, I don’t think we can win these forthcoming elections,” Ssebamala said.

According to Ssebamala, the Opposition should now focus on voter education so that people understand the importance of their votes.

“Over 60% of the population want change, but the big problem is that they don’t vote and this is because they have not been sensitised. We need to encourage them to vote if we are to take power,” Ssebamala said.

Togetherness is key

On Opposition political parties' strategies to gain momentum, Ssebamala said they not only need to work together but also to make their visibility across the country.

“We need to sensitise people across the country. The moment you leave Buganda, you will barely find an Opposition candidate and these are the things we must address for us to take power. We must think beyond the Buganda region,” Ssebamala said.

Asked about the possibility of an Opposition coalition in the General election, Ssebamala said it will not happen because each Opposition political party is driving its agenda.

“What should be uniting us is truth and justice, but we seem not to be reading from the same script. We no longer trust each other, how do you expect a coalition?” Ssebamala said.

Asked whether he will seek a second term as an MP, Ssebamala said he is yet to decide.

“I feel I have done whatever I promised my people, and that is why I was seeking the party presidency. However, I will make a declaration in a month,” Ssebamala said.