The political, but some would more appropriately, described it as the season of election discontent is upon every major political party in Uganda today, with the noisy FDC and NUP being the biggest losers, by way of defection and lack of direction. DP of Norbert Mao, and UPC of James Akena-son to Apollo Milton Obote, Uganda’s president, toppled twice by illiterate army Generals, look disfigured bystanders. But I must admit, Akena trying to re-configure UPC purely on nostalgia, could be a slight headache for the NRM in Lango sub-region.

FDC has suffered a rumbling fallout that has left it a shell, after ten of its twenty-nine MPs decamped to an offshoot called the Peoples’ Front for Freedom (PFF) that has gathered tribal political activists, who may not deliver much. The line up of FDC, mainly Kizza Besigyeists into PFF comprise Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, Moses Kabusu, Kamara, Francis Mwijukye (Buhweju), Naboth Namanya (Rubabo), Betty Aol Ocan (Gulu), Tonny Harold Muhindo (Bukonzo East) , Nakato Asinansi (Hoima City), while Atkins Kutushabe (Bukonzo West) remains undecided but hobnobs with both groups. Into NRM from FDC came Anthony Akol (Kilak North), Moses Okot (Kioga County), Emmaneul Ongyertho (Jonam), and from NUP, NRM clinched Dr Twaha Kagabo (Bukoto South). Martin Ojara Mapenduzi (Bardege) originally in FDC has joined NRM, while Jimmy Lwanga (Njeru Municipality) galivants with the Patriotic League linked to some NRM leaders.

This FDC and PFF coterie, has spent two decades attacking President Yoweri Museveni, but neither learnt how to manage themselves nor produce a working prospectus, and they are unlikely to get it right any time soon. And having failed to gain traction since 2018 when he broke off from FDC, Mugisha and his Alliance National Transformation (ANT) have now joined the same group they fled from seven years ago, to what end, only the gods can predict.

Also, rehearsing the twenty-year old FDC stale cries and style is unlikely to inspire more useful followers to NUP. Already, as the lead opposition in parliament, it has suffered a major setback with six of its 57 MPs abandoning ship. Two of its MPs, Dr Twaha Kagabo and….have joined NRM, while four to DA yet NUP is spending so much energy struggling to burn Mpuuga and his political sidekicks to the ground regardless of the political cost which they may live to regret by which time it could be too late. Many now consider Robert Kyagulanyi and his crew, a disaster that should be discarded during the forthcoming general elections, unfortunately, election politics is stupid.

Its premier former Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LoP) Mathias Mpuuga founded the Democratic Alliance (DA) whose top leadership, unveiled in Masaka last week, resembles a disgruntled tribal clans’ meeting. Mpuuga, Dr Abed Bwanika, Juliet Kakande, Michael Kakembo, Michael Mabiike, Lubega Mukaku. And although DA is squealing loudly, it is most likely chasing a mirage.

While NRM may not suffer defections, the background noise from its impending internal elections is scary. Candidates, and in fact competing factions seem to have put so much at stake, and are unwilling to have a clean process let alone reach compromise for the greater good. While freewheel democracy may be good, letting candidates, even of dubious intentions to sprout like wild mushrooms portends a lasting danger, but unfortunately it is too late to stop anyone.

And the battered public service delivery, especially on social amenities, physical infrastructure, and sprawling impunity of leaders, remain a throbbing headache to a smooth election campaigns being monitored by a vigilant social media and citizen journalism, both necessary to defend democracy and good governance. Already, some prominent NRM candidates, including ministers have been captured on camera and trending on Tik Tok, gleefully distributing money to voters at campaign venues, and doesn’t look decent.