There was excitement and celebration in Rubaga as a group of politicians and their supporters gathered at Jacaranda Gardens to launch a new political party. The party, called The Common Man’s Party (CMP), introduced Hon. Mubarak Munyagwa as its President and Mr. Bugirwa Moses as the Secretary General. Photos and reports of the event quickly made rounds on social media, sparking public interest and curiosity about this new political group that promises to stand for the ordinary Ugandan.
However, just a few hours after the launch, the Electoral Commission of Uganda issued a strong statement. The Commission, through its spokesperson Mr. Julius Muchungzi, made it clear that CMP is not officially recognized as a political party in Uganda. He stated that the last registered political party in the country is the People’s Front for Freedom. According to the Commission, no new political party has been registered since then.
Mr. Muchungzi reminded the public that forming a political party in Uganda is not as simple as making an announcement or holding a gathering. There is a proper legal process that must be followed, as outlined in the Political Parties and Organizations Act of 2005. This process includes fulfilling a number of requirements before a group can be issued with a certificate of registration. Without this certificate, no group can be called a political party under Ugandan law.
As of July 15th, 2025, Uganda officially has 27 political parties on record. The Electoral Commission warned that any group claiming to be a new political party, without being officially registered, might just be a community-based group or social organization. “It could be a village group or something like that,” said Mr. Muchungzi, clearly suggesting that CMP does not yet meet the legal standard of a political party.
The launch of the Common Man’s Party has sparked debate across the country. Supporters believe it’s a step toward giving power back to ordinary citizens, but legal experts and the Electoral Commission insist that laws must be respected. Whether CMP will go on to complete the official registration process remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: in Uganda, calling yourself a political party is not enough — you must be legally recognized as one.
