Established on 5 October 1960 by Peter D'Aguiar, and was initially backed by Indian leaders of the Manpower Citizens' Association (MPCA) and some Portuguese businessmen.
However, the following years saw increasing tensions between the MPCA and the ruling People's Progressive Party, together with the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers' Union (GAWU).
[1] Prior to the 1964 British Guiana general election, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) would fund and provide propaganda to UF.
[2] A strike by the GAWU in 1964 led to a period of violence known as "The Disturbances" between February and July, including bombings, arson and murder.
The violence led to some of the Portuguese community leaving the country,[1] reducing UF's vote share in the December 1964 elections to 12.4%, although it increased its representation to seven seats,[3] and become the junior partner in a coalition government with the People's National Congress (PNC).