FDC Sets Stage for Crucial Delegates Conference to Elect 2026 Presidential Flag Bearer.
The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) will on Thursday, July 31, 2025, convene its much-anticipated National Delegates Conference, during which the party will elect its presidential flag bearer for the 2026 general elections and approve its national campaign budget.
The conference, to be chaired by FDC National Chairman Hon. Jack Sabiiti, marks the final stage of a democratic process that began in April this year. Two contenders Hon. Eng. Patrick Amuriat Oboi and Hon. Nathan Nandala Mafabi were nominated on May 7 following a call for expressions of interest and a vetting process.
“This conference is a defining moment for our party,” said FDC Spokesperson Kikonyogo John during a press briefing on Monday. “It is not only about electing a flag bearer, but also a demonstration of our commitment to transparent and participatory internal democracy.”
In the lead-up to the event, FDC has witnessed increasing calls from party elders and religious leaders to settle on a single candidate to preserve party unity. On July 12, elders from the Teso and Bugisu sub-regions met in Mbale City to encourage dialogue and consensus between the two camps.
An expanded meeting of party elders and representatives from 21 sub-regions is scheduled for Tuesday, July 29, in a last-ditch effort to build consensus before the Thursday vote.
Kikonyogo stressed that, regardless of the outcome, the party’s democratic structures remain intact and functional. “We have a track record of upholding democratic values not only in our rhetoric but in practice. This conference is yet another testament to that legacy,” he said.
The delegates conference is expected to draw hundreds of voting members from across the country. Aside from selecting a flag bearer, the gathering will also approve the 2025/2026 General Election budget, positioning the FDC for the next phase of its electoral campaign.
(yo Ugandan)