By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
The Budadiri West member of parliament, Hon. Nathan Nandala Mafabi is leading pack of four aspirants who picked presidential nomination forms for the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).
On Wednesday, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Electoral Commission has commenced the nominations exercise for the party’s 2026 presidential flagbearer, and at least four aspirants, including Mafabi who is serving as the party Secretary General picked the nomination forms on the first day.
The four candidates who officially entered the race are Matsiko Dan – a former party cadre and president of the self-centered National Thinkers Party, SG Hon. Nathan Nandala Mafabi, Usaama Ssemogerere, and Gerald Malinga.
The nomination process, which commenced today, is scheduled to run until Friday, May 2, 2025. The schedule has been adjusted to accommodate Thursday, May 1, which is a public holiday.
According to the FDC Electoral Commission, all candidates are required to return their completed nomination forms on Tuesday, May 6, and Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
The Commission reiterated that the position of party flagbearer remains open to all eligible members of the party.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Party (DP) has extended the deadline for picking nomination forms for members aspiring to contest in the party’s upcoming structural elections.
Originally scheduled to close today, Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at 5:00 PM, the nomination exercise began on Tuesday, April 29. However, the party announced an extension on Wednesday following numerous complaints from members.
According to DP Secretary General Gerald Siranda Blacks, the decision to extend the deadline came in response to concerns raised by several party members who claimed the initial timeframe was too short to allow for proper participation.
“We received several complaints from our members across the country, indicating that the two-day period was not sufficient,” Siranda stated. “As a democratic institution, we have resolved to extend the deadline to ensure inclusivity and fairness.”
The new closing date for picking nomination forms is yet to be officially communicated, but party officials confirmed it will allow for additional time to accommodate all interested candidates.
The DP is preparing for structural elections aimed at reorganizing and strengthening its grassroots and national leadership.
