Nandala Mafabi, Mugisha Muntu Nominated for 2026 Presidential Elections
By Naome Namusoke/KMA Updates
The Electoral Commission’s nomination grounds in Lubowa-Lweza were a scene of heightened political activity this morning as two more presidential aspirants were duly nominated to contest in the 2026 General Elections.
At exactly 10:00am, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) stalwart Nathan Nandala Mafabi arrived for the exercise, accompanied by his supporters and campaign team. His official agent presented the required documents to the Commission, which included proof of at least 100 supporters from two-thirds of Uganda’s districts and a non-refundable nomination fee of UGX 20 million. After verification, the EC cleared him to contest.
Mafabi, a seasoned politician who has represented Budadiri County West in Parliament for over 25 years and currently serves as Chairman of Bugisu Cooperative Union, pledged to prioritize the fight against poverty if elected.
“Poverty levels in Uganda remain very high, and this will be my first battle. We must invest in productive sectors, especially agriculture,” he stated.
He promised to channel 10% of the national budget into the agricultural sector, noting that empowering farmers would transform livelihoods and strengthen the economy. Mafabi also pledged to ensure that Ugandan coffee fetches fairer returns, contrasting it with Kenyan coffee which enjoys a higher premium on the international market.
Revitalization of cooperatives, according to him, would be central to his leadership agenda:
“When cooperatives thrive, communities thrive. We must bring them back so that people benefit directly from their collective efforts,” he emphasized.
Shortly after Mafabi’s nomination, Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Mugisha Muntu, leader of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), was also cleared by the Electoral Commission. In his acceptance speech, Muntu painted a picture of a country weakened by systemic failure under poor leadership.
“Uganda is a broken country, starting from governance structures to service delivery. Our education system, for instance, has collapsed compared to countries like Libya, Zimbabwe, and Ivory Coast, which have invested in strong systems,” Muntu said.
The nomination of both Mafabi and Muntu brings the total number of confirmed presidential candidates closer to the final list, with the exercise continuing through out today
The Electoral Commission has called for calm and discipline as political parties and candidates prepare to roll out their campaign programs ahead of the January 2026 elections.