The Common Man’s Party (CMP) has opposed the Electoral Commission’s (EC) directive requiring presidential aspirants to collect signatures for nomination. Party President Mubaraka Munyagwa criticized the directive, arguing that the party had already submitted the required signatures during its registration.
Munyagwa made these remarks this morning while marching to the Electoral Commission to pick up nomination forms. At around 10:00 a.m., he addressed party members, expressing dismay at the EC’s new requirement. He did, however, express confidence that the party would collect the necessary signatures within two weeks and meet the set deadline.
The Electoral Commission has defended the directive, stating that it is intended to ensure competence in the nomination process.
Munyagwa also stressed that the formation of the CMP is not aimed at fighting other political parties but rather at uniting them toward the common goal of defeating the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party. Flanked by senior party officials—including Secretary General Moses Bigirwa, Vice President Sentana James, and Electoral Commission Chairperson Mukama Namala—Munyagwa expressed confidence that the CMP would outclass the NRM. He compared the party’s potential to the former Uganda People's Movement (UPM), which lost a parliamentary seat in the 1980s but later won the presidency.
Meanwhile, Secretary General Moses Bigirwa urged all other presidential aspirants who have picked up nomination forms to rally behind the CMP, as he believes they share the same cause. The party’s Women’s League Chairperson for the Eastern Region, Nambayo Achebe, also called on women across the country to embrace the CMP.
This is the party’s third meeting and confirms the CMP as one of the political groups to express interest in contesting for the presidency since the exercise began three days ago.
