The Electoral Commission (EC) has halted the registration of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) as proposed new political party name for opposing members the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Katonga faction.

Similarly, the proposed dominant blue and white chosen by promoters of the party have been trashed for resembling that of FDC, a legitimately registered party.

This development is included in a letter dated September 4th, 2024, where the EC slammed the proposed political party for copying both the name and colours of other major parties.

In the letter addressed to promoters of the PFF party, the EC secretary Mulekwah Leonard reveals that the name has a glaring resemblance with an already existing party, the “People Power Front (PPF),”sparking fears of public confusion. And that’s not all, the party’s chosen colours, white and royal blue, are nearly identical to those of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).

“The choice of white and royal blue as party colors, closely resemble that of the FDC and are likely to confuse the public. In respect of the names of the proposed political party, PFF closely resembles an already reserved political party People Power Front (PFF)”said Mulekwah

To top it off, the EC called out PFF for not fully describing their symbol, a phone. The commission has now ordered the PFF to rethink their identity to avoid clashing with the big political players.

“Please do note that section 7(1) (c) of the political parties act requires that the application of registration for a political should be accompanied by  a full description of the identifying symbols, slogans and names ” Mulekwah notes

Adding that : “Section 8 of the Political Parties and Organizations Act, 2005, prohibits the usage of colour and names of any registered political party or organization”

The FDC Katonga faction, led by prominent figures like Ingrid Turinawe and Kenneth Opoka, submitted their proposal to the Electoral Commission (EC) on August 27, 2024, to reserve the name “People’s Front for Freedom” (PFF). The faction aimed to register this new political party with royal blue and white as their colors, and a mobile phone as their symbol​.​

According to the Political Parties and Organizations Act, the EC cannot register any party whose name, symbols, or colors closely resemble those of an existing party.

The Katonga faction seeks to formalize their split from the main faction following internal disagreements over alleged ties between the Najjanankumbi faction and the ruling NRM government.