The Uganda Electoral Commission (EC) has rejected FDC-Katonga’s request to register a new political party, citing potential public confusion over the proposed name, “People’s Front for Freedom,” (PPF) and its symbols due to its similarity with “People Power Front.”
Leonard Mulekwah, the secretary to the Commission, wrote to the PFF indicating that their name closely resembles that of the People Power Front, which is likely to bring confusion among members of the public.
“The submissions in respect of names of the proposed political party, People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), closely resemble an already reserved political party name, People Power Front (PPF), which is likely to confuse members of the public,” Mulekwah said.
According to Mulekwah, the colors (royal blue and white) closely resemble those of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).
“The choice of white and royal blue as colors closely resembles that of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and is likely to confuse the general public. Please refer to the symbol in use by the FDC Party,” he added.
Mulekwah further said that Section 7(1)(c) of the Political Parties and Organizations Act, 2005 (as amended) requires that the application for registration of a political party or organization should be accompanied, among others, by a full description of the identifying symbols, slogans, and colors, which PFF did not provide.
He further added that Section 8 of the Political Parties and Organizations’ Act prohibits the usage of a color, name, or initials of any registered political party or organization.
He stated that, the People Power Front wrote to EC on August 28, 2024, to block the registration of Kizza Besigye’s People’s Front for Freedom, citing the resemblance in name with their party.
The Besigye Katonga faction resolved to start a new political party following a clash with FDC’s Patrick Oboi Amuriat and Nathan Nandala Mafabi over what they called ‘dirty money’ that the duo used during the 2021 general election.
The Katonga faction also claimed that it had dissolved FDC, though Amuriat trashed the dissolution, claiming the Katonga faction has no authority to dissolve FDC.
On August 27, 2024, PFF, led by the former Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LOP), Wafula Oguttu, wrote to the EC seeking reservation of their proposed party symbol and name, People’s Front for Freedom.
