Deal Or Defeat? FDC’s Amuriat Steps Down, Backs Nandala Mafabi To ‘Battle’ Museveni In 2026

By Our Reporter

The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has officially endorsed Nathan Nandala Mafabi as its presidential flagbearer for the 2026 general elections, marking a major shift in the party’s leadership and electoral strategy ahead of a high-stakes political contest.

The endorsement was confirmed during a closed-door National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held at the FDC headquarters in Najjanankumbi. Mafabi, who currently serves as the party’s secretary general and has represented Budadiri West in Parliament for nearly two decades, received unanimous backing from the party’s top leadership.

This development follows intense internal negotiations and pressure from party elders, which ultimately persuaded FDC President Patrick Oboi Amuriat to step down from seeking a second consecutive run for the presidency. Amuriat, who led the FDC in the 2021 elections, reportedly accepted the elders’ decision in a spirit of party unity.

“It’s true, Nandala is our party flagbearer and he will be announced to the public today,” a senior party official confirmed, speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of an official press briefing scheduled for 10 a.m.

Sources say the decision came after weeks of consultations and a pivotal meeting in Mbale, Eastern Uganda, where elders from Teso and Bugisu regions urged Amuriat to make way for Mafabi. The move is being viewed as a calculated step to reinvigorate FDC’s grassroots appeal and reset its political direction amid recent internal divisions.

“This is a turning point for FDC,” a senior NEC member told this publication. “We believe Hon. Mafabi embodies the integrity, discipline, and courage required to challenge the status quo.”

Mafabi, a former Leader of the Opposition in Parliament and a respected voice within Uganda’s opposition ranks, enters the race with a strong political resume and considerable support in the East. His endorsement signals the FDC’s intent to reposition itself as a key contender in a crowded opposition field.

He will now face off against incumbent President Yoweri Museveni, recently nominated by the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) to seek a seventh term in office, extending his rule beyond four decades. Other confirmed presidential contenders include Robert Kyagulanyi (NUP), Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Mugisha Muntu (ANT), Mathias Mpuuga (Democratic Front), Norbert Mao (Democratic Party), and Joseph Kabuleta (NEED), alongside fringe aspirants such as John Katumba and Ivan Kisakye.

Political analysts say Mafabi’s candidacy could reshape opposition dynamics, especially if broader coalition talks resume among the leading opposition parties ahead of the 2026 vote.

The FDC is expected to release a detailed campaign roadmap in the coming months, including its national mobilization strategy, policy priorities, and candidate deployment across the country.

With the 2026 general elections on the horizon, Uganda’s political landscape is heating up, and Nandala Mafabi’s ascent marks a bold new chapter for one of the country’s leading opposition parties.