Uganda Law Society (ULS) President Isaac Ssemakadde has argued that the country’s political struggle should not be reduced to a contest between the government and the National Unity Platform (NUP), saying millions of Ugandans are demanding justice, freedom and better governance.
Ssemakadde said President Yoweri Museveni’s long-standing influence on Uganda’s politics had contributed to a situation where many national issues are viewed primarily through a political lens.
However, he cautioned against interpreting calls for political and social change as an effort to promote one opposition party over another.
“Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has pushed Ugandans to turn everything into politics,” Ssemakadde said, arguing that the ongoing struggle should be understood in broader terms.
“This is not about fighting NUP as a political party. You're not fighting one political party. You're fighting millions of Ugandans who are oppressed and demanding change,” he added.
The ULS president noted that NUP is only one of several opposition parties operating in Uganda, suggesting that the grievances driving demands for change extend beyond party membership and political affiliations.
His remarks come amid continued debate over Uganda’s political environment, particularly concerns surrounding opposition activities, political freedoms and the treatment of government critics.
Ssemakadde framed the situation as a broader conflict between citizens seeking accountability and what he described as systems of oppression, rather than a conventional rivalry between political parties.
“NUP is not the only opposition party in Uganda; there are many others,” he said.
According to the ULS president, the central question facing Uganda is therefore whether citizens can freely demand their rights and participate in shaping the country’s political future.
“The real struggle is between oppression and the people seeking justice, freedom, and a better Uganda,” Ssemakadde said.
His comments are likely to add to the wider national discussion on political reform, particularly as opposition groups, civil society organisations and government institutions continue to debate the country’s democratic space.
Ssemakadde’s position also places the role of ordinary citizens at the centre of Uganda’s political debate, arguing that demands for change cannot be attributed solely to the ambitions or activities of individual opposition parties.