The Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) has elected Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Mugisha Muntu as its presidential flagbearer for the 2026 general elections. The decision was made unanimously during the party’s Expanded National Conference held in Kabuusu, Kampala, with delegates from all sub-regions endorsing his candidacy.
The announcement was met with celebration, as party members broke into dance to the “Yo-Leng” anthem – a song symbolizing resilience and resolve in the face of political adversity.
Muntu, a former army commander and ex-president of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), brings decades of military, political, and organizational experience to the candidacy.
He served as the Commander of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) from 1989 to 1998 and later entered opposition politics, where he became known for his advocacy of institutional reform and internal party democracy.
He left the FDC in 2018, citing ideological differences, and went on to form the ANT in 2019.
In his address to delegates, Muntu criticized the current political environment, accusing the ruling government of relying on fear and financial incentives to retain power.
“The situation is getting worse and worse,” he said.
Money
“Where Gen. Museveni knows that fear works, that money works, they keep using those tools. But if society stands up and says, ‘No, enough is enough,’ it can only happen if leaders take a stand.”
He emphasized that national development should not be measured by infrastructure alone but must be rooted in restoring citizens’ dignity.
“Development is not about buildings, rocks, or water supply. Those are necessary, yes, but the foundation must be dignity. A people with dignity and self-belief can achieve more.”
Muntu also referenced a memorandum of understanding signed between ANT and the People’s Front for Transition (PFT), describing it as a shared effort to rebuild public trust and offer principled leadership.
With his nomination confirmed, ANT becomes one of the first political parties to formally unveil a presidential candidate for the 2026–2031 cycle. Muntu’s campaign is expected to focus on governance reform, accountability, and rebuilding confidence in democratic processes.
