DA Waters Down “Protest Vote” Narrative

The leadership of the Democratic Alliance pressure group has watered down the ‘protest vote’ narrative being promoted by a section of opposition political leaders, specifically the National Unity Platform (NUP). They noted that this is a well-planned move to legitimize the NRM government in the upcoming election.

Democratic Alliance has instead urgued all political actors to bury their political differences and work for a common goal to force the NRM govt to adhere to the demands of Ugandans to amend the electoral laws to have a free and fair election

National Unity Platform leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu recently announced to his followers that the top leadership of NUP resolved to participate in the 2026 election as a protest vote; however, he did not expand on the details of this new protest vote narrative. Choosing to protest by participating

In 2022, Mr. Kyagulanyi indicated that he would not run again if the electoral process is not changed to ensure free and fair elections; however, earlier this year, he made a U-turn with a new announcement that he would stand for the presidency under a new narrative of a protest vote, which literally means ceding power to the regime and only seek opposition positions for his core team of loyalists.

Now, the interim leader of the Democratic Alliance and former leader of the opposition, Mathias Mpuuga Nsamba, while addressing Democratic Alliance leaders from Kampala and Wakiso at the Alliance’s headquarters in Namirembe, noted that the opposition joining the NRM to participate in an election without meaningful reforms to correct the electoral process is a well-laid plan by a section of people to sanitize and legitimize NRM’s election fraud.

Mpuuga reiterated that the Democratic Alliance’s agenda is to see a united opposition fighting for a common agenda of causing a change in the electoral process of the country if it is to have a seemingly democratic electoral process.

Mpuuga urged all leaders of the Democratic Alliance from across the country to work together to promote the values and mission of the Democratic Alliance if the country is to have a political space with the right politicians and leaders.