Moses Bigirwa, a prominent figure within Uganda's political scene, has orchestrated a seismic shift by breaking away from the National Unity Platform to establish his own political entity, the Eastern Revolutionary Platform.
This move, announced on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, in Jinja city, has sent shockwaves through the Eastern region, as Bigirwa mobilizes political actors from various districts to join his cause.
Bigirwa, who had baptized himself as a General and was a founding member of the NUP's PP005, has now set his sights on charting a new path with ERP.
The pressure group, with Bigirwa at its helm as president, has already attracted a significant following, drawing in disgruntled NUP youths and mobilizers from across the Eastern region.
Under the banner of "Eastern First," ERP aims to demand equitable shares of resources and opportunities for the Eastern region, which they believe have been neglected for too long. With Ivan Masha serving as deputy president, Francis Adepho as Secretary General, and John Ndaula as the movement's publicist, ERP is poised to challenge the status quo and advocate for the rights of Eastern Ugandans.
During the launch event, Adepho emphasized the significance of starting the movement in Busoga subregion, highlighting their intention to traverse the entire Eastern region in the future. The choice of a black color theme symbolizes their perception of neglect and impunity against the Eastern region since independence, fueling their determination to effect political transformation.
Central to ERP's mission is the desire to change the political mindset of Eastern region residents regarding Uganda's leadership. Bigirwa asserts that the NRM government has overlooked Eastern Uganda in terms of service delivery, prompting ERP to step in as advocates for their region's interests.
"We were forgotten because we don’t have anyone to speak for us," Bigirwa lamented.
"Regions like Buganda have benefited from this government because they stood up and spoke. We have therefore come to speak for our region."
The defection of Bigirwa and his cohorts from NUP to ERP marks a significant loss for the former and a potential gain for the latter, as they seek to consolidate support and challenge the established political order. Bigirwa's decision to shift focus from fighting President Museveni to contesting the Kamuli Municipality MP seat underscores his commitment to grassroots politics and advancing the interests of his constituents.
As ERP gains momentum and political relevance, all eyes are on the Eastern region, where Bigirwa and his allies are poised to reshape the political landscape and assert their demands for a fairer and more inclusive Uganda.
