The Resolutions Of The Democratic Front National Council Meeting

On September 20, 2025, the Democratic Front (DF) National Council convened at the Party Headquarters, where members unanimously adopted a series of pivotal resolutions that reflect the party’s commitment to addressing electoral challenges and driving reforms.

The resolutions are as follows:

1. Acknowledgment of biased electoral practices under the NRM regime, including violence and voter intimidation.
2. Noting the lack of key electoral reforms ahead of the 2026 elections.
3. Condemnation of government and opposition resistance to calls for electoral reform. 4. Deploring the prevailing impunity, military involvement, flawed result declarations, and voter safety concerns in Uganda’s electoral process.
4. Recommitting to a comprehensive Democratic Front agenda focused on social, economic, and political reform, including constitutional changes and a transition plan.
5. Calling for a national dialogue to establish consensus before consequential elections. 7. Recognizing the efforts of the DF President and the National Executive Committee in advocating for reform.
6. Challenging the government to propose a clear Transition and Reform framework through several legislative bills.
7. Resolving to segment the 2026 general elections for focused engagement.
8. Deciding that the DF will not field a Presidential candidate in the 2026 elections due to skewed electoral processes.
9. Expressing disappointment over Parliament’s failure to address critical issues, especially regarding electoral reforms.
10. Committing to use the general elections to promote the DF Reform and Transition agenda and strengthen party structures.
11. Determining to fully participate in the Parliamentary elections to influence pro-people legislation.
12. Opting to engage in Local Government elections to promote grassroots influence and change.
13. Scheduling the next National Council meeting for June 2026 to evaluate the 2026 elections and discuss other vital issues.

To delve into the detailed communiqué that elaborates on these resolutions word by word, shedding further light on DF’s strategic directions and commitments as we approach the upcoming elections.

In Detail

After debating failures and successes of change seeking forces since 1996 and taking cognisance of actions to be undertaken in the prevailing conditions under which the 2026 elections will be conducted, the DF National council sitting on this 20th day of September, 2025 has resolved as hereunder:

RESOLUTIONS

1. The DF National Council has concluded that  aside the biased and partisan electoral commission, elections held under the NRM regime have similar characteristics marred by;  violence, voter intimidation,  bribery, flawed voter register, gerrymandering, arrests and many times death of activists, falsification of results, involvement of military and  security agencies.
2. The DF National Council has noted that the country is gearing for the next general election without addressing key electoral reforms, the only reform being an amendment of the Political Parties and Organizations act on NCF.
3. The DF National Council deplores the manner in which both Government and the leading Opposition Party have resisted, frustrated, and undermined electoral reform calls and attempts.
4. The DF National Council deplores the following characteristics of Uganda’s general elections;

• Impunity and involvement of the military and security agencies and relegation of the legal mandate of the Uganda Police has not been addressed.
• The flawed manner of declaration of Presidential elections results has not been resolved.
• The deployment of reliable technology providing for biometric register and electronic transmission of results has not been addressed.
• The wanton arrests and incarceration of pro-change activists has not been resolved and thousands of them lie incarcerated in prison, 4 years after the last general elections
• Guarantees on the safety of voters and candidates have not been put in place, with over 18 Ugandans still missing, – whereabouts unknown following their disappearance during election activities of 2021.
• Impunity, violence, voter bribery and falsification of results and declarations have not been checked.
• Public access to Electoral commission Results portal and random verification of results remains a big challenge

5. The DF National Council recommits to the Democratic Front (DA) published agenda which calls for a total reset of the country’s social economic and political fabric, specifically focused on the urgent need for the following;

• Key constitutional, electoral and administrative reforms
• National transition comprising a smooth transfer of power from those who grabbed it 40 years ago to the next leader
• National reconciliation and reparation program
• Organisation of free, verifiable and consequential elections

6. The DF National Council calls for a national dialogue aimed at arriving at a new consensus before any consequential election can be conducted.
7. The DF National Council lauds the work of the DF President and that of the National Executive Committee, which includes the following:

• In June 2023, The DF President, while leader of opposition invited an opposition retreat to focus on a push for a reform agenda.
• The DF leader further drafted and tabled 8 electoral reform bills before Parliament which have not seen the light of day
• The Democratic Alliance, published concrete proposals on National transition and reforms
• The DF leadership reached out to and corresponded with all political, social, religious, cultural  actors and development partners, in a clarion call to focus on matters of transition and reform

8. The DF National Council challenges the Government of Uganda to show will and commitment by tabling before Parliament a Transition and Reform framework enabled by the following bills:
9. Constitutional Amendment bill
10. Presidential Transition bill
11. Presidential Privileges And immunities bill
12. The National Transition Bill
13. The Reconciliation and reparation bill
14. The DF National Council resolves to segment the 2026 general elections and deal with it as such.
15. Resolution on DF Presidential Candidate; The DF National Council is concerned that Presidential elections since 1996 are organised in a skewed manner to advantage a particular candidate-Yoweri Museveni. They are a mere ritual with pre-determined result. To participate without addressing the flaws would be to lend credibility to a sham process. Therefore in view of the foregoing, it is resolved that DF shall not present a candidate at the level of  President at the 2026 general elections
16. Resolution on Parliament; The DF resolves to deplore failure of the Uganda Parliament to consider and debate serious matters of bearing to the future of this country especially  electoral reforms and Transition and more particularly the 8  electoral reform bills tabled by the DF President
17. Resolution on Popularisation of the DF Agenda : In light of the huge job ahead, it’s resolved that DF uses the process of the general elections to popularise and promote its declared Reform and Transition agenda along with building Party structures nationwide.
18. Resolution on Parliamentary elections ; In order to focus on pro-people legislation, reform and transition, the DF must ensure influence in the next Parliament and it is resolved that the DF shall fully participate at the Parliamentary level of the 2026 general elections and NEC is hereby directed to extend substantial support to DF Parliamentary candidates nation-wide.
19. Resolution on Local government elections: To influence grassroots affairs, politics and mind set change, the DF shall participate at the Local government level of the 2026 general elections and the DF NEC is hereby directed to extend considerable support towards DF Local Government candidates nationwide.
20. Resolution on the next National Council meeting: The National Council shall reconvene in June 2026 to evaluate the process and outcome of the 2026 elections and consider any other crucial matters.

Ends