DF rejects election results, cites widespread malpractice

19 January 2026, 1:55 pm

By Ronald Ssemagonja

The leadership of the Democratic Front (DF) political party on Monday addressed the media at their headquarters in Kampala, rejecting the outcome of the recently concluded general elections, which saw all party candidates lose, including the party president general, Hon. Mathias Mpuuga.

Addressing journalists, Mpuuga said the party does not recognize the results of both the parliamentary and presidential elections, citing widespread electoral malpractice. He noted that the elections were only part of a longer political journey for the party and encouraged Ugandans interested in DF’s ideology to join the party.

“We reject the outcome of the parliamentary and presidential elections because the process was marred by serious irregularities,” Mpuuga said. “This is just part of the long journey we have embarked on.”

DF spokesperson Hon. Kasibante Moses revealed that although none of the party’s 88 parliamentary candidates won, about 90 percent of them finished in second position.

“Our candidates performed well. Nearly 90 percent came second, and we are going to remain active in all the areas where we contested,” Kasibante said. “There are places where our members were defeated in a manner that was neither free nor fair. Even though we did not win, our candidates remain active in politics, and we are proud that all of them completed their campaigns.”

Mpuuga said the party was particularly concerned about the failure of Biometric Voter Verification (BVV) kits, which he described as evidence that the Electoral Commission was not adequately prepared and failed to comply with the law.

“The last time we addressed the nation here, it was before the elections. Today, we are here to make our post-election remarks and to congratulate Ugandans for participating in the exercise as required by the Constitution,” Mpuuga said. “However, the Electoral Commission was not ready.”

He further alleged that in several areas, declaration forms were altered and candidates who did not win were declared victorious by presiding officers.

“In many places, declaration forms were changed, and candidates who never won were declared winners,” Mpuuga said. “We also advised that presidential results should be announced at the district level, but this advice was ignored.”

Mpuuga also criticized the involvement of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) in the electoral process, saying the army should remain professional and non-partisan.

“The UPDF should protect the country and not participate in electoral processes,” he said, adding that there were serious malpractices reported in Masaka.

He noted that DF would soon communicate its next course of action after consulting party members and its legal team.

“We are going to stick to our mission. We remain available for national dialogue because this country belongs to all of us. None of us is angry, but we are concerned citizens,” Mpuuga said.