In a pivotal step for the People’s Freedom Forum (PFF) party, Alban Rukundo, a former aspiring Member of Parliament on the PFF ticket, publicly declared his support for Hon. Naboth Namanya as the party’s flag bearer for the upcoming parliamentary seat in Rubabo Constituency. This announcement took place during a press conference at Rukundo’s residence in Buyanja, signaling a strategic move aimed at strengthening the party’s position in the region.
Alban Rukundo expressed that he had initially picked up nomination forms and was duly nominated as a candidate for the Member of Parliament for Rubabo Constituency. However, he pointed out that the PFF, being a relatively new political entity, faced challenges in conducting primaries to select flag bearers for several key seats. Instead, the party opted for a voting process among all aspiring candidates, which ultimately led to Naboth Namanya receiving the PFF flag for the parliamentary race.
During the press conference, Rukundo articulated that his endorsement of Namanya was not merely a personal choice but a strategic decision aimed at unifying the party and building a strong foundation to effectively challenge the National Resistance Movement (NRM) in the upcoming general elections set for 2026. He emphasized his commitment to adhering to party guidelines and insisted that supporting Namanya was in the best interest of PFF, especially given the political landscape in Rukungiri.
Rukundo’s backing of Namanya is consistent with his previous political engagements. In 2021, he supported the late Denmark for the Western Youths MP seat under the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), despite the ultimate victory going to Hon. Edison Rugumayo from NRM. This history of backing candidates reflects Rukundo’s focus on coalition-building and party unity.
In his closing remarks, Alban Rukundo urged all PFF supporters to embrace this decision as a significant step towards the party’s betterment. He called on candidates who were not awarded flags to rally behind the chosen flag bearers, emphasizing the importance of solidarity in building a formidable PFF presence in Rukungiri. Rukundo promised to extend his support to all PFF flag bearers across various levels, ensuring that they have the necessary resources and backing to secure victory in the forthcoming elections.
This endorsement marks a crucial moment for the PFF party as it seeks to establish itself in a competitive political environment, positioning itself as a viable alternative to the NRM in the region.
