Africa-Press – Uganda. If food is politics, then Mubarak Munyagwa has set the table. The former Kawempe South legislator on Monday proudly unveiled his rebranded political outfit, the Common Man’s Party, after the Electoral Commission handed him an official certificate of registration.
The party’s symbol, unveiled with much ceremony (and appetite), is the lusaniya — the large serving dish that, in many Ugandan homes, gathers families and friends around a meal.
In true Munyagwa fashion, he and his allies didn’t just show the emblem during the unveiling last month, they demonstrated it, digging into heaped trays of rice, kneading fist-sized balls with their fingers and swallowing them to prove a point.
“This lusaniya represents unity, inclusiveness and the real Ugandan spirit of sharing,” Munyagwa declared between mouthfuls, as amused journalists looked on.
“It is for the common man — we all eat from it.”
Fast forward and it is now official: Munyagwa and those who believe in the gospel of food are ready to lay the tables for voters and serve them.
Munyagwa, displaying the certificate before journalists, said the recognition frees the party from accusations of operating illegally and infringing on other parties’ political colors.
“We have been suppressed, with some parties claiming we were using their colors, which was false until the Electoral Commission cleared us,” he said.
Party Secretary General Moses Bigirwa used the launch to extend an invitation to politicians sidelined elsewhere.
“All those denied membership cards in NUP and NRM, we welcome you. We have many positions where you can stand and serve,” he declared, adding that nominations and registration for aspirants will open nationwide starting tomorrow.
Positioning the Common Man’s Party as a new opposition force, Munyagwa drew parallels with the defiance era under former FDC leader Dr Kizza Besigye.
“Besigye’s opposition was very strong, unlike the opposition we see today. We are now walking in Besigye’s footsteps as a true opposition force,” he said.
The party, which previously operated under the name Uganda Economic Party, has been rebranded with a new identity and electoral symbol: a chair.
Munyagwa explained that the emblem represents stability, comfort, and inclusiveness for the ordinary Ugandan.
With its registration secured, the party is embarking on a grassroots mobilization drive, aiming to register members and aspirants in all regions of the country.
Bigirwa said the exercise is intended to guarantee equal participation and national representation.
The Common Man’s Party enters Uganda’s political landscape at a time when the opposition is struggling to assert itself.
Whether the new formation will reshape the dynamics of opposition politics remains uncertain, but its leaders are confident of rallying support from disenchanted voters.
For the party, the lusaniya could be the magic wand. SG Bigirwa said the choice of symbol was not only cultural but also political.
“We are the only party you can join and be sure you won’t leave hungry,” he quipped. “All those denied cards in NUP and NRM, come — there is room on the tray for everyone.”
The launch in Mengo marked the end of years of wrangles over the party’s legality. Previously operating as the Uganda Economic Party, the group was accused of infringing on other parties’ colors until the Electoral Commission cleared its paperwork and blessed the new identity.
The Common Man’s Party now plans to open nominations for candidates nationwide.
According to Bigirwa, the recruitment drive will spread “like a buffet” across the country, with positions on offer for all aspiring leaders.
Whether Munyagwa’s lusaniya politics will feed the appetite of Uganda’s restless electorate remains to be seen.
But one thing is certain: in 2026, voters will not just tick a symbol, they will be asked to imagine kneeling before a tray, rolling up their sleeves — and eating politics with their hands.
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