Imam Idi Kasozi laments opposition's lack of strategy ahead of 2026 elections

Renowned political analyst and academic Imam Idi Kasozi has criticised opposition for its lack of preparedness ahead of the 2026 general elections, describing 2024 as a year that has dashed hopes of unseating President Museveni.
Appearing on NBS Morning Breeze on Tuesday morning, Kasozi pointed to the absence of a clear strategy as a major obstacle to the opposition’s progress.
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“I will remember 2024 as a year that has shuttered the prospects of 2026 when we had hope that Mr. Museveni is going down, but he seems to be remaining up just because we lack strategy,” he said.
Kasozi highlighted a lack of political maturity within the opposition, singling out the National Unity Platform (NUP) and other factions for their poor coordination and misplaced priorities.
“My colleagues in NUP and largely in the opposition, there is a lack of political maturity,” he noted.
He emphasized the need for internal organization and adherence to defined roles for success.
Using a military analogy, Kasozi stressed the importance of effective leadership and strategic planning.
“Foot soldiers can fight but cannot direct the war. The moment you leave them to direct the way, you are likely to lose the war. Everybody in the struggle must focus on their role and allow the think tanks to think and direct,” he explained.
On President Museveni’s leadership, Kasozi acknowledged the challenges within the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) but commended Museveni’s ability to maintain authority.
He cited opposition figures such as Dr. Kizza Besigye and Gen. David Tinyefuza (now Sejusa) as rare examples where Museveni faced significant resistance.
“President Museveni has had issues with his own, but it’s only on a few incidences that he has gone overboard, maybe probably for Besigye and halfway Tinyefuza,” he observed.
Echoing Kasozi’s sentiments, Mityana South Member of Parliament Richard Lumu also expressed disappointment with the state of Uganda’s opposition, warning that internal divisions and lack of cohesion are allowing the NRM to regain ground lost during the 2021 elections.
“I will remember 2024 as a very painful year. In the eyes of the people who want to see the light at the end of the tunnel, the light is not there because we have refused to put the fire on it,” Lumu said, lamenting the opposition's failure to present a united front against Museveni’s government.
According to Lumu, the opposition’s internal struggles have created opportunities for the ruling NRM to consolidate its influence in previously lost constituencies.
“The NRM is actually going to regain some of the constituencies that it had lost in 2021 because we (the opposition) have made it possible for them to do it,” he observed.
Lumu criticized the opposition for focusing on internal disputes rather than their shared goal of removing Museveni from power.
“The opposition as it is standing now is too shaky that it leaves President Museveni happy because we fight each other more than we fight the people we want to get out of government,” he said.
He called for political maturity and unity within opposition ranks to restore focus on their collective objectives.