Amid Uganda's official Heroes Day festivities in Lyantonde on June 9, 2025, the newly formed People's Front for Freedom (PFF) orchestrated a bold counter-ceremony in Kampala, delivering a sharp critique of the government's narrative. The opposition group proclaimed imprisoned political figure Colonel (Retired) Dr. Kizza Besigye a "genuine national hero," directly challenging state authorities over what they termed the persecution of liberation icons.

While national ceremonies unfolded with customary grandeur, PFF members gathered at their headquarters, where Besigye's portrait stood prominently in place of the man himself. The veteran opposition leader, currently detained at Luzira Maximum Security Prison alongside co-accused Haji Obedi Lutale, faces charges of allegedly plotting against the government—accusations his supporters vehemently deny.

Questioning Heroism and Sacrifice

PFF interim spokesperson Ibrahim Ssemujju framed Besigye's detention as a national betrayal during the emotionally charged event. "Dr. Besigye sacrificed a promising medical career at Nairobi's Aga Khan Hospital to join the struggle for this nation's freedom decades ago," Ssemujju asserted. "Is imprisonment the only reward he receives for that profound sacrifice? Authentic Heroes Day cannot coexist with genuine heroes languishing behind bars."

Roland Mugume Kaginda, a key PFF executive member, expanded on this theme. "Uganda cannot genuinely honor liberation heroes while simultaneously marginalizing and incarcerating those who were instrumental in that very liberation," Kaginda declared, highlighting Besigye's historical role fighting alongside President Yoweri Museveni during the National Resistance Army's guerrilla campaign.

New Party Mobilizes Support

The gathering also functioned as a significant recruitment drive for the PFF, which secured formal registration as a political party just days prior on June 5th. Michael Kabaziguruka, chair of the PFF Electoral Commission, reported substantial public interest. "Merely four days post-registration, our offices have witnessed hundreds of Ugandans seeking membership," Kabaziguruka stated. "As a movement dedicated to transformative change, we embrace them and are actively preparing orientation on our foundational values and ideology."

New recruits attending the ceremony voiced admiration for the PFF's leadership, particularly expressing solidarity with Besigye. Many cited the party's focus on justice, systemic reform, and national rejuvenation as primary motivators for joining its ranks.

A Defiant Conclusion

The event concluded with participants singing the resonant protest anthem "We Shall Overcome One Day." PFF leaders pledged steadfast resistance to what they labeled the "ongoing betrayal of Uganda's authentic liberators," positioning their alternative commemoration not merely as a tribute but as a direct political challenge to the established narrative surrounding heroism and governance in contemporary Uganda.

This confrontation underscores deepening political divisions as the nascent PFF leverages historical narratives and current controversies to establish its presence. The party's decision to center its inaugural major public action around Besigye's plight signals a clear intent to position itself as the standard-bearer for Uganda's fragmented opposition movement, challenging the state's authority to define national heroes while demanding the liberation of a figure many supporters view as a political prisoner.

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#Uganda Politics #Opposition Movement #Heroes Day #Kizza Besigye #Political Prisoners