FALSE: NUP Did Not Mock ANT and PFF’s Coalition Pact
A headline by The Explorer an online news platform, falsely alleges that the National Unity Platform (NUP) mocked the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) and the People’s Front for Transition (PFF) cooperation, calling it a “combination of failures.”
“NUP mocks ANT-PFF Cooperation, calling it a “combination of failures” it reads
Facts
While it is true that Ssenyonyi attended and spoke at the press conference onThursday, July 3, 2025, and that ANT and PFF signed their coalition pact on Wednesday, July 2, as seen in an X post by @TheAllianceUG, the article’s claims are not supported by any actual evidence from the event
There is no other independent media outlet has reported such a statement from NUP.
According to the article, NUP spokesperson and Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi made the remark during a press conference held on Thursday, July 3, 2025.
1/2
Earlier today, we (@TheAllianceUG) & the People’s Front for Freedom officially signed a historic coalition pact. This alliance is a bold step toward confronting Uganda’s pressing challenges & charting a new course for inclusive governance, social justice & democratic reform. pic.twitter.com/7KjFU0lw4D— Alliance for National Transformation (@TheAllianceUG) July 2, 2025
Evidence
“However, NUP swiftly rejected any possibility of collaboration, with party spokesperson Joel Ssenyonyi stating that the NUP, being the leading opposition party in Uganda, is not interested in working with what he termed as “divisive forces” reads the third paragraph of the story.
However, a review of the livestreamed press conference reveals that Ssenyonyi did not make any such statement. He did not mention ANT, PFF, or their coalition at all.
Ssenyonyi publicly refuted the story on both Facebook and X, writing:
“I’ve seen this fake article making the rounds, saying we made those remarks at the NUP press conference yesterday. This is totally false. Our press conference was public, and it was telecast live; no leader within NUP made those remarks. Dismiss this propaganda with the contempt it deserves.”
In what termed the article an attempt to create tension and division in the political playground ahead of the elections, NUP’s official X account also shared Ssenyonyi’s remarks from the press conference. In the post, Ssenyonyi urges Ugandans seeking change not to be swayed by groups aiming to create division within the opposition
“The LoP @JoelSsenyonyi tasks all change-seeking Ugandans to stay focused and keep their eyes on the prize rather than be swayed by some forces that are trying to antagonise the struggle, ” reads the first part of the post
“There are lots of attacks against NUP, not just by NRM, which we want to unseat, but there are some other groups and formations which have made NUP their agenda and target… My appeal to us is that we don’t get dissuaded and diverted by these small groups.” – Joel Ssenyonyi rallies change seekers to remain focused on the prize.” the post continued.
NUP party president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, who also spoke at the press conference, did not reference the coalition either. Instead, his remarks focused on the continued history of state violence and political repression in Uganda. He recounted past and present cases of police brutality and militarization of politics, including the use of ghetto youth by state agents in previous election cycles.
“You saw what happened recently on the streets of Kampala. It has not just happened now. I take you back a little, in 2001, they used what they called the Kalangala action plan, led by Kakooza Mutale. Picking poor ghetto people and use them against the population… Every electoral cycle, they always bring up a new group. In 2006, they brought what they called the Kiboko squad; in 2011, they brought Boda Boda 2010, led by Abdullah Kitatta. Using poor common Ugandans against each other. In 2016, they went into ghettos and put up what they called crime preventers, led by Kayihura (former IGP)… They terrorised people, they killed people, and their leader came out proudly and said they can kill for the president, and indeed they killed for their president…. In 2021, because it was unusual, it combined politics; they combined them, they brought CMI, Military Police, Crime Intelligence and SFC, and, of course, they used a few poor people, including our former friends… Now (ahead of 2026), what are they? They know I come from the ghetto… Museveni deployed his officer Ddamulira to create the ghetto structures,” Kyagulanyi said during the press conference on Thur, Jul 3, 2025
In response to the false article on X, ANT party leader Mugisha Muntu suggested that such stories are tactics by the ruling regime to sow confusion and disunity among opposition forces.
“There is nothing that so frightens the regime than a well coordinated forces of change effort. I suspect they might go into over drive to sow confusion amongst the pro change efforts to cooperate. This might just be the beginning.”
I’ve seen this fake article making rounds, saying we made those remarks at the NUP press conference yesterday.
This is totally false.
Our press conference was public and it was telecast live, no leader within NUP made those remarks.
Dismiss this propaganda with the contempt it… pic.twitter.com/WzjChtzDFd— Joel Ssenyonyi (@JoelSsenyonyi) July 3, 2025
On the other hand, the headline frames the claim as coming from “NUP” as a party, yet only attributes the alleged remarks to a single individual (Ssenyonyi). If the article were genuinely based on Ssenyonyi’s view alone, the headline should have been specific to him. Using “NUP” implies an institutional stance, which the story fails to prove or support with multiple sources or statements from other party officials.
Verdict
False, NUP did not mock the coalition pact between ANT and PFF. The article misrepresents what occurred and attempts to mislead the public, sow division among opposition parties, and derail collective efforts for electoral cooperation. Kindly disregard it.