By KT Reporter
Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate Nathan Nandala Mafabi has kicked off his campaign with a bold pledge: to allocate 100 million shillings to every village in Uganda if elected president in 2026.
Speaking to hundreds of supporters at the Kampala Road Primary School playground in Butabika, Mafabi vowed to fix Uganda’s economy by stopping corruption and channeling recovered funds directly to citizens.
He argued that Uganda loses about 10 trillion shillings annually to corruption and promised that, under his leadership, at least 7.2 trillion shillings would be redirected each year to village development projects.
According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics, the country has 71,227 villages. Meeting Mafabi’s promise would therefore cost about 7.12 trillion shillings annually.
Mafabi criticized President Museveni’s Parish Development Model, which allocates 100 million shillings per parish, saying it has been undermined by corruption. He pledged to deliver a cleaner and more accountable village-based plan that would benefit more people.
As an economist and senior legislator, Mafabi cited his long record on parliamentary committees where he has exposed theft and misuse of public resources. He said government ignored his warnings in the past, but as president, he would act on them.
Mafabi also pledged one million shillings for every graduate to tackle youth unemployment, contrasting it with what he described as Museveni’s unfulfilled graduate fund pledge. He claimed that other candidates have copied his manifesto ideas but argued that only his team can deliver them.
He further promised to improve livelihoods for women, the elderly, and other special interest groups, including monthly stipends and better housing. Recognizing agriculture as the backbone of Uganda’s economy, Mafabi said he would commit not less than 10 percent of the national budget to the sector.
He added that reviving genuine farmer cooperatives would be central to his plan, boasting that as chairperson of the Bugisu Cooperative Union—the only surviving farmers’ cooperative—he has the experience to make it work.
Mafabi arrived for the rally at around 3:30 pm, having been nominated earlier Wednesday morning. Supporters welcomed him with chants as he addressed them at the playground.
According to Ibrahim Kasozi, an FDC member, the rally venue was deliberately chosen to highlight the party’s agenda of “fixing the economy and putting money in people’s pockets.” He said they wanted Mafabi to witness firsthand the poor roads and deplorable sanitary conditions in parts of the capital city.
Former FDC flag bearer Patrick Oboi Amuriat also addressed the rally, noting that he did not visit Nakawa during his 2021 campaign. He said the last campaign was marred by irregularities and expressed hope for a peaceful process this time, adding that supporters had been briefed to avoid fracas.
Despite the significance of the event, the rally attracted a modest crowd of party supporters and a few residents. It marked FDC’s first campaign since a bitter split that saw some members form the People’s Front for Freedom party.
The split, fueled by allegations of leaders “selling out” to the ruling government, was evident on the campaign trail as bystanders shouted “walya” (you sold out) at Mafabi. He, however, chose not to address the accusations during his maiden presidential campaign speech.
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