• Munyagwa Mubarak says his father, Hajj Serunga Buruhan, genuinely supports Museveni and has done so since the 1970s.

• The two have long-standing political disagreements dating back to Munyagwa’s entry into DP’s UYD in 2000.

• Despite health struggles and lack of government assistance, Hajj Buruhan still defends President Museveni, citing past experiences under Amin and Obote.

Presidential candidate and leader of the Common Man’s Party, Munyagwa Mubarak, has explained the circumstances behind his father Hajj Serunga Buruhan’s appearance at President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s recent campaign rally in Kitagwenda District.

The country was left puzzled when Hajj Buruhan was among the speakers at the NRM candidate’s gathering, urging voters in Kitagwenda and across Uganda to back President Museveni’s re-election. His public endorsement raised questions about how a parent could support a political opponent over his own son.

Speaking in an interview, Munyagwa clarified that his father was not coerced, stressing that he has been a loyal supporter of President Museveni and the NRM for decades.

 “My father has supported Museveni since the 1970s. He sees him and his group as ‘saviors’ because of what he went through during the Amin regime,” Munyagwa said.

According to the presidential candidate, his father’s political loyalty dates back to the era when Museveni led the UPM. Munyagwa explained that Hajj Buruhan was once nearly killed under the Idi Amin government after being arrested for trading in coffee, which had been banned at the time. This experience cemented his admiration for Museveni’s later efforts to challenge oppressive regimes.

Munyagwa revealed that his disagreements with his father began around the year 2000 when he joined the DP’s UYD movement. His father questioned why the Democratic Party had not “gone to the bush” during the turbulent Amin and Obote eras.

He added that his brother, Eng. Ssebaggala Isaac, also does not support his political journey, noting that both men back the NRM. The only member of his immediate family who supports him politically, he said, is his mother.

Munyagwa also reflected on the 2019 health scare when his father nearly died during the COVID-19 wave. Despite spending over UGX 70 million on treatment, he said the NRM government did not intervene or support the family at any point. However, even then, his father defended President Museveni, arguing that the challenges he faced were caused by individuals around the President, not Museveni himself.

Despite their political differences, Munyagwa said he is not upset with his father. Instead, he believes many elderly Ugandans—especially those in their 80s—maintain deep loyalty to President Museveni because of their historical experiences.