The Secretary General of the Democratic Front (DF), Michael Mabikke, has thanked the people of Makindye East for their support, while conceding the party's disappointing performance in the recently concluded 2026 presidential and parliamentary elections.
Speaking on Sanyuka Morning Xpress on Tuesday, Mabikke reflected on the nature of democratic competition, noting that elections inevitably produce winners and losers.
"In democracy, there is what we call an election--an event that happens every five years. In an election, there is always a win or a loss. I want to thank the people of Makindye East because they showed me love," he said.
In Makindye East, Ali Nganda Kasirye, popularly known as Mulyanyama of the National Unity Platform (NUP), was declared winner with 17,700 votes, defeating Judith Nuwabeine Abaho of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), who garnered 15,522 votes.
Follow us on WhatsApp | LinkedIn for the latest headlines
Mabikke conceded that the Democratic Front was affected by the outcome of the polls, noting that none of the party's 99 candidates secured a win.
"As DF, we were affected, and out of our 99 candidates, none won," he said.
The remarks come amid the Democratic Front's official rejection of the 2026 presidential and parliamentary election results, which the party claims were marred by widespread irregularities and violations of electoral laws.
Addressing journalists at the party's headquarters on Monday, DF President Mathias Mpuuga Nsamba criticized the preparedness and conduct of the Electoral Commission (EC), highlighting systemic failures that, according to the party, undermined the credibility of the polls.
"The DF is concerned that the Electoral Commission had not prepared enough to adapt to new technology, and worse still had no backup plans. The recently concluded presidential and parliamentary elections were conducted outside the law," Mpuuga said.
The party cited multiple irregularities, including delayed delivery of voting materials, failure to deploy Biometric Voter Verification (BVR) kits, and alleged false declarations of results by some presiding officers.
Mpuuga also criticized the placement of polling stations within army barracks, police facilities, and prisons, arguing that these locations restricted voter access and compromised transparency.
In response to the disputed polls, the Democratic Front is calling for comprehensive electoral reforms, a transitional political process, and national reconciliation to restore public confidence and ensure future elections are free, fair, and lawful.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
Despite failing to secure parliamentary representation, DF officials maintain that the election results demonstrate the party's growing national footprint.
DF spokesperson Moses Kasibante noted that many of the party's 88 parliamentary candidates performed strongly, emerging as the second choice for voters.
One of the most closely watched races was in Nyendo-Mukungwe, where DF President Mathias Mpuuga lost to Lubowa Ssebina Gyaviira of NUP.
Gyaviira secured 21,447 votes, defeating Mpuuga, who garnered 10,548 votes.
The contest drew national attention due to Mpuuga's departure from NUP following the controversial "service award" saga and his subsequent role in forming the Democratic Front.
