FDC Flag Bearer Nandala Mafabi Unveils Ambitious Agenda After Presidential Nomination

Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) flag bearer, Hon. Nathan Nandala Mafabi, has officially joined the race for Uganda’s highest office after being duly nominated by the Electoral Commission on Wednesday, the second day of the 2026 presidential nominations.

Mafabi, who currently serves as the Budadiri West MP and FDC’s Secretary General, successfully fulfilled all requirements under the Presidential Elections Act, Cap 179. His nomination was witnessed by cheering supporters, who welcomed him as a candidate of reform and change.

In his post-nomination address, Mafabi outlined an ambitious agenda centered on agriculture, youth employment, anti-corruption, and national unity. He pledged to reverse policies he said have stifled Uganda’s potential, particularly in the farming sector.

“Our farmers produce but have nowhere to store their harvests. A responsible government must ensure farmers can store maize, coffee, and sugarcane and access cash when needed,” Mafabi said, promising to allocate at least 10 percent of the national budget to agriculture.

Among his top priorities, Mafabi committed to building storage facilities, guaranteeing markets for produce, and strengthening farmers’ access to financing. He criticized the government’s handling of the coffee industry, pointing out that Kenyan coffee earns higher global prices than Uganda’s.

“If elected, I will ensure Uganda’s coffee gets value at the global market,” he noted. Mafabi also vowed to revive cooperative societies, which he described as crucial for economic empowerment.

“No country can grow without cooperatives. I come with experience to make sure cooperatives work again,” he said.

On youth unemployment, Mafabi pledged to channel resources into productive sectors to create jobs, including a promise that every university graduate would receive a one million-shilling startup package to jumpstart their future.

“The youth are suffering. They are unemployed and vulnerable to drug abuse. We must invest in sectors that create opportunities instead of wasting resources on unproductive spending,” he emphasized.

His manifesto further includes sending development funds directly to villages, parishes, and sub-counties, a strategy he said would cut down corruption and drive grassroots growth. He also committed to expanding sports infrastructure in schools to identify and nurture young talent.

Positioning himself as a unifying figure, Mafabi declared that Uganda needs a leader who can “build and repair bridges” after nearly four decades under President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

“I don’t come with hatred or anger. I come to build and repair bridges. This election is an opportunity for Ugandans to choose new leadership that can fix the country,” he said, describing himself as the “best candidate for Uganda.”

With his nomination, Mafabi becomes one of the leading opposition voices officially on the 2026 ballot, bringing with him a message of reform, accountability, and hope for millions of Ugandans eager for change.