Ugandan Opposition Pledges to Continue Raila’s “Unfinished Symphony of Democracy”
KAMPALA, UGANDA – October 15, 2025 – In a powerful and politically charged tribute, Uganda’s main opposition coalition, the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), has eulogized the late Kenyan leader Raila Odinga as a “beacon” and “comrade-in-arms” in the shared struggle against autocracy in East Africa.
The statement, issued by PFF Chairman Erias Lukwago, framed Odinga’s legacy not just in the context of Kenyan politics, but as a direct inspiration for their own fight against the government of President Yoweri Museveni.
Lukwago hailed Odinga as the “eternal agitator for justice” and the “architect of Kenya’s multiparty dawn,” drawing direct parallels to the PFF’s own objectives. “In Uganda, where we… fight against the chains of autocracy, Raila was more than a neighbor across the border; he was a beacon,” the statement read, pointedly mentioning the incarceration of their leader, Dr. Kizza Besigye.
The tribute emphasized Odinga’s resilience, noting his five presidential bids and his recent bid for the African Union Commission chairmanship, which was described as a “symphony of pan-African dreams.” It credited him with teaching a crucial lesson: “that true power lies not in the ballot alone but in the unquenchable thirst for equity.”
The statement also highlighted Odinga’s tenure as Prime Minister in a coalition government as a “blueprint” for strategic reconciliation, a model the PFF seems to be drawing upon as it mobilizes for the 2026 elections under the banner, “Freedom for all—all for freedom.”
In a solemn pledge, the PFF committed to ensuring that Odinga’s “unfinished symphony of democracy will resound until every chain is shattered, every voice heard.”
The tribute from the Ugandan opposition presents a starkly different perspective on Odinga’s legacy compared to the official condolences from regional governments, underscoring the deep political fractures within the East African community. It positions Odinga not just as a national leader, but as a symbolic figure for opposition movements across the continent.
