In Summary: The Common Man’s Party has suspended Secretary General Moses Bigirwa indefinitely over alleged misconduct and appointed two acting officials to take over his responsibilities, days after Bigirwa publicly questioned party president Mubarak Munyagwa’s absence and the failure to convene executive meetings.
Kampala, Uganda — The Common Man’s Party (CMP) Secretariat, led by former presidential candidate Mubarak Munyagwa Sserunga, has suspended its Secretary General, Moses Bigirwa, indefinitely and appointed two acting officials in a leadership shake-up that comes amid growing disagreements over the party’s administration.
In a letter dated November 5, 2026, and stamped by the Electoral Commission on November 6, the party notified the Commission of a tentative change in the person holding the office of Secretary General, citing Section 10(4) of the Political Parties and Organisations Act, Cap 178.
The letter, signed by Deputy Secretary General Ropan Proscovia, Party Chairman James Watentena and party president Munyagwa, indicates that the decision followed a resolution of an Extraordinary National Executive Committee meeting held on November 5.
“By Resolution of the Extraordinary National Executive Committee adopted on 5th November, 2026, the substantive Secretary General was suspended indefinitely, pending investigations into allegations of substantial misconduct,” the letter, exclusively seen by DailyExpress, states.
Although the notification does not expressly name the suspended official, Moses Bigirwa has been serving as the party’s substantive Secretary General.
Munyagwa subsequently appointed Ropan Proscovia as Acting Secretary General in charge of research, while Semmindi Asadullah was appointed Acting Secretary General in charge of administration and party liaison, with immediate effect.
The appointments effectively divide the responsibilities previously handled under the Secretary General’s office between two officials as investigations into the alleged misconduct proceed.
The development comes barely a day after Bigirwa publicly raised concerns about Munyagwa’s prolonged absence from the party headquarters and what he described as a breakdown in the functioning of the party’s leadership structures.
Bigirwa questions Munyagwa’s absence
In an interview with Nile Post on November 4, Bigirwa said Munyagwa had not returned to the party headquarters after taking leave following the January 2026 general elections.
He claimed that efforts to reach the party president through telephone calls, WhatsApp messages and intermediaries had been unsuccessful, despite Munyagwa continuing to appear on radio, television and social media platforms.
“He went for leave, which was acceptable and normal. But unfortunately, since he went on leave, he never came back to do his work. Of course, we see him moving up and down radio stations, television, and social media. I called him several times, but he doesn’t answer my calls. I WhatsApp him and send people to look for him, but he doesn’t respond,” Bigirwa said.
The Secretary General also questioned the party’s internal decision-making processes, claiming that the National Executive Committee (NEC) had not held a formal meeting since January. “Since January up to today, we never had a formal National Executive Committee. And that raises a leadership crisis within the party. Why are we not sitting?” he asked.
Bigirwa further indicated that attempts to organise a delegates’ conference had encountered difficulties, raising concerns about the party’s ability to resolve internal administrative issues.
The suspension announced the following day has therefore brought the disagreements into sharper focus, although the party’s notification does not specify the alleged misconduct or establish whether the decision was directly connected to Bigirwa’s public criticism.
Munyagwa’s earlier explanations about party leadership
The latest disagreement comes against the background of Munyagwa’s earlier criticism of leadership structures within the opposition, particularly his former political home, the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF).
In an interview with New Vision published in July 2025, Munyagwa explained why he had chosen to establish a separate political platform rather than remain within the PFF.
He said his decision was influenced by dissatisfaction with the party’s leadership arrangements and what he perceived as competition for positions among its senior members. “I wanted an independent home where I can make independent decisions without anybody in PFF management thinking that I am getting all the commands from Besigye,” Munyagwa said.
He also criticised what he described as the preoccupation with leadership positions at the expense of the wider political struggle.
The former Kawempe South MP subsequently unveiled the Common Man’s Party in July 2025, following the rebranding of the Uganda Economic Party, positioning it as a platform intended to champion the interests of ordinary Ugandans.
Moses Bigirwa was introduced as Secretary General, while Ropan Proscovia served as Deputy Secretary General in the party’s initial leadership structure.
During the 2026 presidential campaign, Munyagwa repeatedly presented CMP as an alternative political platform and called for a different approach to opposition politics.
In an interview with Next Media’s Sanyuka One on One programme in January 2026, he acknowledged that the party had not attracted a large number of votes but maintained that it had an honest team and had registered some electoral presence in different regions.
He also acknowledged that financial limitations had affected his campaign reach, saying he had increasingly relied on television and online platforms to communicate with voters.
From campaign partnership to leadership disagreement
Munyagwa and Bigirwa previously presented a united political front during the party’s formation and the 2026 election campaigns.
In October 2025, Munyagwa temporarily suspended his presidential campaign activities in Makindye to accompany and support Bigirwa during his Kamuli Municipality parliamentary nomination activities.
At the time, Munyagwa publicly praised Bigirwa’s political experience and grassroots mobilisation, describing him as an important figure in the party’s ambitions in the Busoga region. The two leaders subsequently campaigned under the CMP banner, with Bigirwa serving as the party’s chief administrator.
Their relationship has now come under scrutiny following the public disagreements over party administration and the subsequent suspension.
The latest shake-up raises questions about the party’s internal decision-making, the authority of its executive structures and the arrangements governing the suspension and replacement of senior office bearers.
It also comes amid separate reports about Munyagwa’s political engagements outside the party.
On November 3, Bbeg Media reported that Munyagwa had held meetings with Gen Salim Saleh at Kapeeka in October, with the publication citing unnamed sources who linked the engagements to possible efforts to facilitate dialogue involving opposition figure Dr Kizza Besigye.
Bigirwa’s response to the suspension and Munyagwa’s explanation of the latest leadership changes were not available in the reports reviewed for this article.
The party will now face the task of maintaining its administrative operations while addressing the questions raised by the latest developments and clarifying the circumstances surrounding the suspension of its substantive Secretary General.
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