Based in Kasangati along Kyankyima Road, the People Power Front (PPF) has written to the secretary of the Electoral Commission (EC) secretary asking him to decline a request by the Kizza Besigye Katonga faction of the FDC to register a new political party named Party People’s Front for Freedom (PFF).
Spartan Achilles Mukagyi, the acting People Power Front (PPF) secretary general says the Electoral Commission should follow the law barring new political parties from having the same or similar names or symbols.
He has urged the Electoral Commission “to intervene on the subject matter by guiding on the technicalities and modalities of reservation and registration of political parties” in its capacity as “the regulator of political parties and organizations in Uganda.”
Mukagyi avers that the People Power Front (PPF), whose registration began in December 2023 and is nearing completion, is concerned by the similarity of the particulars presented by the Besigye group for the registration of their new Party People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) party.
“Pursuant to Section 8 of the Political Parties and Organizations Act, 2005 that adduces for non-contravention of party particulars by prospective applicants, wherein a political party of organization ought not to submit to the Electoral Commission for the purpose of registration under section 7, any identifying symbol, slogan, colour or name which is the same or similar to the symbol, slogan, colour or name or initials of an existing entity, is the background with which I petition the matter herein to the Independent Electoral Commission,” wrote Mukagyi on August 28.
“You will recall that the promoters of People Power Front (PPF) reserved the party particulars (Name. identifying symbols and slogans) on the 20th December 2023 and have since then undertaken the requisite and statutory requirements needed for completion of party registration and furthermore hope that Electoral Commission is in its final stages of concluding the registration process of PPF.”
Mukagyi then explained the similarities between the Party People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) and People Power Front (PPF). He cited the two words, People and Front, which appear in both names.
The similarity, he argued, has already started confusing people and will continue to do so if the Electoral Commission (EC) does not do something about it.
“However, it is worth noting in the recent developments that FDC’s Katonga based faction has tendered in its request with the Electoral commission to reserve People’s Front for Freedom (PFF). which is similar to the already existing People Power Front (PPF),” Mukagyi wrote.
“The key words being People and Front will not only confuse party members and electorates as already is, but will also put to disrepute the independent Electoral Commission as the regulator of political parties should both entities be accorded a green light.”
It should be remembered that Besigye’s FDC Katonga faction has started on the process of registering a new political party, accusing the Najjanankumbi based FDC of chewing Museveni’s money. (See Details Here).
The FDC has in previously claimed that Museveni moles have infiltrated the party, with some of these suspected moles being appointed to Museveni’s government. (See Details Here and There).
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