Mwijukye
Francis Mwijukye, a long-time ally of veteran opposition politician Dr Kizza Besigye, has lost his parliamentary seat in the January 15, 2026 general elections.
Mwijukye, who was contesting on the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) ticket, was defeated by first-time parliamentary contender Zadock Mutekanga of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), bringing his decade-long stay in Parliament to an end.
Mwijukye rose to national prominence during Besigye’s prolonged political struggle against President Yoweri Museveni, which dates back to 2001 when Besigye first contested for the presidency. Over the years, Besigye employed various pressure tactics, including the widely known Walk-to-Work protests, during which several political activists emerged.
Among them was Mwijukye, whose close association with Besigye elevated his political profile. Riding on that visibility, Mwijukye was elected Member of Parliament for Buhweju County in 2016 and went on to serve two terms in the House.
Besigye, who remains entangled in legal battles including treason charges alongside his aide Hajj Obeid Lutale, has continued to cast a long shadow over opposition politics. Analysts say the defeat of key allies such as Mwijukye signals a shifting political landscape in some traditional opposition strongholds.
Mutekanga’s victory adds to the NRM’s gains in constituencies previously associated with opposition influence.
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