FDC Endorses Nandala Mafabi for 2026 Presidential Race as Amuriat Steps Aside.
In a significant political development, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has officially endorsed Secretary General Nathan Nandala Mafabi as its presidential flagbearer for the 2026 General Election.
The announcement was made on Tuesday morning at the party’s headquarters in Najjanankumbi, following weeks of internal consultations and closed-door meetings among party leaders.
The decision comes after party president Patrick Oboi Amuriat voluntarily stepped aside, paving the way for a unified front within Uganda’s leading opposition party.
Amuriat, who was the party’s presidential candidate in the 2021 election, emphasized the importance of party cohesion and collective interest over personal ambition.
“We must rise above self and work for the unity of the party. This is the only way we can challenge the regime in 2026,” Amuriat told journalists during the press briefing.
Nandala Mafabi, a seasoned politician and current Member of Parliament for Budadiri County West, expressed gratitude for the endorsement and pledged to lead the party into a new era of accountability, economic reform, and national transformation.
“This endorsement is not just a vote of confidence in me, but a call to action for every Ugandan who desires change.
We are ready to lead this country with integrity and vision,” he said.
The endorsement followed heightened speculation over potential divisions within the FDC, particularly between the camps aligned to Amuriat and Mafabi.
However, today’s announcement appeared to dispel fears of a looming split, with senior party members from both factions present and expressing support for the resolution.
Political analysts say the move signals a calculated effort by the FDC to consolidate its base and refocus on national mobilization.
Mafabi’s strongholds in the Bugisu sub-region and his reputation as a fiscal conservative are expected to play a key role in reshaping the party’s campaign strategy.
This latest development positions Mafabi among the main challengers in a crowded presidential race expected to feature incumbent President Yoweri Museveni of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine) of the National Unity Platform (NUP), and possibly other opposition figures.
The FDC is expected to unveil its full campaign roadmap in the coming weeks, focusing on grassroots mobilization, electoral reforms, and coalition-building efforts with other opposition groups.
As the 2026 elections draw closer, all eyes will be on Mafabi and whether he can reinvigorate the FDC’s fortunes and mount a credible challenge to Uganda’s long-standing political establishment.
(feed news)