Apparently, the road to State House is too steep — so Democratic Front (DF) president Mathias Mpuuga has decided to make a pitstop back at his old Nyendo–Mukungwe seat.With just two weeks to nominations, the man who once thundered that Uganda “needed new leadership” has declared he will instead contest for Member of Parliament — for the fourth time. That’s right: the DF president, opposition commissioner in Parliament, and former Bobi Wine ally has decided that Parliament’s air-conditioning is far more comforting than the heat of a presidential race.On Monday, October 6, while addressing supporters in Masaka, Mpuuga confidently announced his return to familiar territory.“The party directed me to seek five more years as Nyendo–Mukungwe MP as we prepare for what’s next. Contesting for presidency is not a ritual; I will contest when ready,” he said.Translation: “Let me first warm up for another five years — the presidency can wait.”From Presidential Dreams to Local Campaign PostersIt’s the kind of move that leaves even his admirers scratching their heads. How does a man start a new political party and then refuse to stand as its presidential flag bearer? It’s like opening a restaurant and deciding you’ll just serve water — “for now.”Political wags in Masaka are already joking that DF now stands for “Delay Forever.”His explanation that he’s “still preparing” for a presidential bid has become the punchline of the week in political circles. After all, Mpuuga has been in Parliament since 2011 — that’s 15 years of preparation, enough time to get a PhD in “waiting for the right moment.”The Fallout That Still StingsMpuuga’s new political journey began after his dramatic fallout with the National Unity Platform (NUP) — the party he once helped build in Masaka. Things went south after the now-infamous Shs1.7 billion “service award” scandal, where Mpuuga and three other commissioners allegedly pocketed hundreds of millions “in appreciation” of their service.When NUP demanded accountability, Mpuuga didn’t apologize — he defected.He accused Bobi Wine and team of “intolerance,” which, coming from a man who couldn’t tolerate returning the money, was quite the twist.That fallout birthed the Democratic Front — which, despite the bold name, has so far produced more press conferences than policies.The “President-in-Waiting” Who Keeps WaitingMpuuga says he’ll run for president “when ready,” but at this rate, it looks like even Uganda’s potholes will be fixed before that happens. His recent statement — that “even the dust will stir up when the time comes” — left some wondering if the dust he’s referring to is from the Nyendo–Mukungwe campaign trail.Meanwhile, his DF comrades Abed Bwanika and Juliet Nakakande have also announced parliamentary bids, turning what was supposed to be a “revolutionary movement” into something that looks more like a class reunion of NUP defectors.The Joke Writes ItselfLet’s face it: Mpuuga’s “presidential ambitions” are starting to sound like that New Year’s resolution everyone keeps postponing — “I’ll start next year… maybe.”For a man who once promised to lead a national transformation, ending up recycling his old MP seat feels like watching a movie that was supposed to have a sequel but got canceled for low ratings.He now faces NUP’s Gyavira Ssebina Lubowa and NRM’s Rachael Nakitende in what could be dubbed “The Battle for Relevance.”Still, one can’t help but admire Mpuuga’s consistency — not in rising, but in remaining.As one cheeky supporter in Masaka reportedly put it, “Mpuuga’s political journey has taught us one thing — you can leave a party, form a new one, fight your old boss, and still end up right where you started.”Maybe in 2031, he’ll finally be “ready” for the presidency. Until then, the DF’s top seat-holder seems perfectly content holding onto Nyendo — proving once again that in Ugandan politics, ambition may be national, but comfort is very local.The post Mpuuga’s Great Downgrade: From State House Dreams To Clinging On To Nyendo Seat appeared first on The Insider.