Mubarak Munyagwa reveals why he snubbed the NTV organized presidential debate

• Mubarak Munyagwa boycotted the NTV presidential debate citing President Museveni’s absence.
• Munyagwa argued that a debate without the incumbent becomes a monologue rather than an intellectual competition.
• He criticized the opposition for looking “funny and ugly” debating among themselves.

Presidential candidate, Mubarak Munyagwa of the Common Man’s Party has revealed why he refused to participate in the recently concluded NTV-organized presidential debate. He cited the absence of incumbent President Yoweri Museveni as the reason why he also didn’t bother.

Munyagwa criticized the debate format, saying that it failed to meet the standards of a proper intellectual contest.

“My argument, my reason was one: we are giving President Museveni latitude to portray us as people who are not worth opponents. When you allow an incumbent to run away from such a debate, those who appear end up engaging in a monologue,” Munyagwa said.

He emphasized that a debate should be an “intellectual competition” where candidates compare policies and ideas, not a friendly talk between opposition figures.

“You look very funny and ugly debating amongst yourselves while the incumbent sits out. That’s why they looked funny and ugly. I even suggested that we should have boycotted that debate altogether,” he added.

Only five candidates attended the debate including NUP’s Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, ANT’s Mugisha Muntu, FDC’s Nandala Mafabi, Elton Mabirizi and Frank Bulira, raising questions about its effectiveness in challenging the sitting president. Munyagwa insists that President Museveni should have participated to ensure a fair and meaningful discussion of national policies.