Dr. Bruce Muhangi Endebiika, the newly appointed National Peasants Party (NPP) Secretary General, has stated that the party will not engage in discussions with the government over the proposed Consociational Democracy Agreement until all political prisoners are released. Muhangi, who takes over from suspended Secretary General Sharif Nambale Ssentongo, emphasized that the party wants the government to first address concerns surrounding the continued detention of opposition supporters and other individuals described as political prisoners.
Muhangi named several individuals, including Dr. Col. Kiiza Besigye, former lord mayor Erias Lukwago, and NUP deputy spokesperson Alex Waisswa Mufumbiro, among those he wants released. He argued that political engagement cannot proceed while people remain incarcerated on what the party considers political grounds. The party had tasked the government with ensuring the release of all political prisoners before any discussions can take place.
Muhangi's remarks come amid discussions surrounding the proposed Consociational Democracy Agreement, a framework developed from a working paper by Professor Ogenga Otunnu and General Caleb Akandwanaho, also known as Salim Saleh. The 135-page document proposes a broader approach to political cooperation, national inclusion, and addressing historical and contemporary grievances.
The National Peasants Party, through Muhangi, is making the release of political prisoners and protection of human rights a priority before it can consider participating in the proposed engagement. His appointment follows the suspension of Ssentongo on October 22, 2026, by the party's National Consultative Council Chairperson, Elias Wamala. Ssentongo was suspended due to alleged misconduct, mismanagement of party affairs, and failure to account for party resources.
The suspension letter accused Ssentongo of failing to deliver voters' registers obtained from the Electoral Commission ahead of the January 2026 presidential elections, locking party offices, and initiating political collaborations without approval from the party leadership. Muhangi now assumes the party's top administrative position as NPP positions itself on the proposed national political cooperation process.
The release of detainees and protection of human rights have emerged as key conditions in the NPP's approach to government. The party's stance is clear: it will not engage in discussions with the government until its demands are met. This development adds a new layer of complexity to the ongoing discussions surrounding the proposed Consociational Democracy Agreement.
As the NPP prepares to engage with the government, Muhangi's appointment and statements have set the tone for the party's approach to the proposed agreement. With the release of political prisoners and protection of human rights as non-negotiable conditions, the party is taking a firm stance on its demands. The outcome of these developments remains to be seen.
Key points
- The National Peasants Party will not engage in discussions with the government until all political prisoners are released.
- Dr. Bruce Muhangi Endebiika has been appointed as the new Secretary General of the National Peasants Party.
- The proposed Consociational Democracy Agreement aims to promote political cooperation, national inclusion, and address historical and contemporary grievances in Uganda.
