The Najjanankumbi-based Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party has announced plans to engage their opposition counterparts, the National Unity Platform (NUP), to lay joint strategies ahead of the 2026 general election.
Addressing journalists at Najjanankumbi in Kampala On Monday, FDC president Patrick Oboi Amuriat said the move is part of their strategy to ready up for the 2026 electioneering period.
Amuriat said Ugandans have hope in the opposition political parties, but expressed dismay at some leaders who he accused of engaging in petty fights.
He attributed internal fights in the political parties to ‘lack of leadership’, which has left the opposition at the risk of being infiltrated by the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
“We challenge our colleagues in NUP to provide leadership to the opposition. It is sad that we are experiencing infighting as NUP just looks on. Please, you are the leading opposition party in Parliament, provide leadership,” Amuriat said.
He said since the 2021 elections, NRM has not faced any serious pressure from the opposition, something that has given the ruling party ample time “to disorganise the opposition”.
“We cannot accept to walk to the next election without leadership like sheep that have been prepared to be slaughtered. We must wake up as leaders and show direction,” Amuriat said.
In July last year, FDC Secretary General Nathan Nandala Mafabi said he was the one trying to save the party against efforts to merge it with NUP.
This came a few hours after the then-party spokesperson and Kira Municipality MP, Ibrahim Semujju Nganda, accused Mafabi and Amuriat of trying to sell FDC to the NRM.
According to Ssemujju, Mafabi and the company brought billions of shillings into the party during the 2021 elections and refused to disclose its source.
He said it was the money that was used to make large purchases including cars from Cooper Motors that were used in the 2021 general election.
In response, Mafabi wondered why Ssemujju was questioning the funding of the 2021 campaigns, yet FDC had been receiving funding over the previous elections and he (Ssemujju) did not question its source.
This is not the first time that the FDC has faced significant challenges resulting from internal disagreements. In 2017, a group led by the then-party president, Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu disagreed with their colleagues and Muntu decided to part ways, and he formed the Alliance for National Transformation.
MOBILISATION, DIGITAL REGISTRATION
The FDC has launched a nationwide mobilisation campaign and digital membership registration, which Robert Centenary, the party vice-chairperson, said will see party members renew their membership online.
Centenary said the Najjanankumbi-based opposition party is the first to embrace digital registration.
“We are the FDC that leads the way and others follow. We are the party that aligns well with generational demands whose biggest percentage are the youth,” Centenary said.
Amuriat said ordinary membership cards will cost Shs5,000, a crane blue card will go for Shs50,000, bronze registration will be at Shs100,000, silver will be at Shs500,000, gold at Shs5m, while a lifetime membership card will go for Shs10m.
“We have made this to avoid members who jump from one party to another. We have set requirements to be fulfilled, especially for those going for lifetime registration,” Amuriat said. NUP SPEAKS OUT
John Baptist Nambeshe, the opposition chief whip in Parliament, who is also the Manjiya County MP, said NUP is open to discussions and collaborations with other opposition parties provided they mean well for the country.
He said unity among parties and Ugandans is necessary, especially at the time when the country is preparing for the general election.
Nambeshe, however, added that the party would subject possible allies to integrity checks to ensure they carry the desired qualities.”
MPUUGA INVITES KYAGULANYI
The former Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LOP), Mathias Mpuuga, has invited the NUP president, Robert Kyagulanyi, for his thanksgiving ceremony due on June 21, at Kitovu Sports Arena in Masaka.
The incumbent LOP, Joel Ssenyonyi, NUP legal officer Benjamin Katana, secretary general Lewis Rubongoya, vice-president of western region Jolly Mugisha, deputy president for northern region Dr Lina Zedriga and chief mobiliser Fred Nyanzi have also been invited for the fete.
Buganda Prime Minister Charles Peter Mayiga has been designated as the chief guest.
