Former leader of opposition Mathias Mpuuga has unveiled a new political pressure group, the Democratic Alliance, months after being suspended from the National Unity Platform (NUP).
Mpuuga, the Nyendo-Mukungwe MP, fell out with NUP leadership over a controversial Shs 500 million service award he and other parliamentary commissioners received. The fallout deepened when NUP president Robert Kyagulanyi suspended Mpuuga as NUP deputy president for the Buganda region and directed him to resign as a parliamentary commissioner, a directive Mpuuga resisted.
Since his suspension, Mpuuga had remained silent on his next political move. On Friday, he announced the formation of the Democratic Alliance, a group he claims aims to bring about real political change.
Mpuuga claimed over the past four years, the struggle for change has been derailed by pettiness and infighting within NUP, saying instead of focusing on democratic governance, NUP has wasted time on internal wrangles.
He criticized NUP leadership, accusing them of lacking a coherent strategy to unseat President Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled Uganda for 40 years. Mpuuga added that the Democratic Alliance would field candidates at all levels, including a presidential candidate, in the 2026 elections.
The formation of Democratic Alliance has drawn mixed reactions from NUP, the Democratic Party (DP), and other opposition circles. Isaac Wampamba, NUP councillor for Butuntumula sub-county in Luwero, welcomed the move, praising Mpuuga as a unifying figure more capable of rallying the opposition than Kyagulanyi.
Wampamba said that NUP is currently fractured, and the president doesn’t take advice from anyone. He added that Mpuuga’s departure is likely to weaken the party and shift leadership positions to the Democratic Alliance.
Emmanuel Nsubuga, DP chairperson for Luwero town, echoed similar sentiments, saying Mpuuga’s leadership could rejuvenate the opposition. According to him, Mpuuga is tested and has shown the ability to unite the opposition more than Kyagulanyi.
Mpuuga’s influence appears to be gaining traction in DP and NUP support bases in Luwero. Prominent figures such as Charles Ssebyala, former Luwero town council LC III chairperson, and George Ssemakula, an aspirant for Katikamu South MP, have already pledged their allegiance to the Democratic Alliance.
However, NUP loyalists dismissed Mpuuga’s new initiative. Samuel Bunjo, NUP’s publicity secretary for Luwero, argued that Mpuuga’s acceptance of the Shs 500 million award tarnished his credibility. He said Mpuuga’s exit won’t affect NUP since he failed to live up to the expectations of morally upright Ugandans.
Some see the Democratic Alliance as a necessary step toward reinvigorating Uganda’s opposition. Joseph Mugerwa, former Masaka municipal councillor, believes the new pressure group could inspire Ugandans disillusioned by selfish political leaders. He said Uganda needs leaders who provide real alternatives to NRM and the Demcratic Alliance could be the vehicle for a better approach to leadership change.
However, others remain skeptical. Charles Kasibante, a veteran opposition figure in Masaka, warned that fragmented opposition efforts could doom the Alliance’s ambitions. Kasibante said the only way to remove Museveni is for all opposition parties to unite and front a single candidate.
As 2026 approaches, the Democratic Alliance’s impact remains to be seen. Will it galvanize the opposition, or will internal divisions continue to stymie efforts for political change in Uganda?