“NRM Is the ‘Dictatorship’ That Funds, Hosts, and Dresses It’s Opposition” Ofwono Opondo Breaks His Silence

In an opinion piece published on April 14, 2025, by the Uganda Media Centre, government spokesperson Ofwono Opondo shared his perspective on the state of Uganda’s political opposition and the role of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) under President Yoweri Museveni.

Opondo defended the NRM against frequent accusations of authoritarianism, arguing that the ruling party has, in fact, provided room for political competition. He pointed to legal recognition of opposition parties, state funding, and the inclusion of opposition figures in parliamentary leadership—especially in key accountability committees like PAC and COSASE—as evidence of Uganda’s democratic space.

However, he was critical of the state of the opposition, describing parties such as the National Unity Platform (NUP), Democratic Party (DP), Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), and the newly launched People’s Front for Freedom (PPF) as fragmented and weakened by internal strife.

Opondo was especially dismissive of the PPF, characterizing it as a shaky initiative. Using strong language, he referred to leaders such as Erias Lukwago, Kizza Besigye, Wasswa Birigwa, and Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda as “political crybabies,” claiming the new alliance is unlikely to gain momentum. He likened it to a spider web that “has only caught flies.”

He also highlighted how some former opposition leaders have since joined government ranks—citing Norbert Mao of the DP and Betty Among of the UPC—as examples of how opposition figures have been co-opted into the very system they once criticized.

Opondo concluded by urging the NRM to improve its communication strategy ahead of the 2026 elections. He emphasized that the party’s biggest challenge is not pressure from the opposition, but rather its own failure to clearly communicate its achievements and vision to the public.

According to Opondo, the opposition is not entirely outside the political system. Instead, he argues that the current environment—despite criticisms—offers more political openness than previous regimes.