KAMPALA
A fierce political contest is taking shape within the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) as former party presidential candidate in the 2021 election, Eng. Patrick Oboi Amuriat, popularly known as POA, and current Secretary General Hon. Nathan Nandala Mafabi officially joined the race for the party’s presidential flag bearer ahead of the 2026 general elections.
At exactly 5:00 PM today, the FDC Electoral Commission closed the nomination process for interested candidates seeking to represent the party in the presidential elections. The final day of the exercise saw two candidates; Bumba Arinest and Hon. Patrick Oboi Amuriat pick up nomination forms, bringing the total number of aspirants to six.
The nomination period began on Wednesday April 30, with four candidates picking up forms on the first day. They are Matsiko Dan Malcom, Hon. Nathan Nandala Mafabi, Usaama Ssemogerere, and Gerald Malinga.
The dual candidacies of Amuriat and Mafabi, both longstanding pillars of the party, have intensified speculation over ideological and strategic rifts within the FDC. Their decision to go head-to-head for the top flag bearer position sets the stage for a potentially divisive internal election.
“This is not just a contest for a ticket. It’s a battle for the soul and direction of the party,” said a senior FDC insider who preferred anonymity.
Speaking shortly after the closure of nominations, FDC Electoral Commission Chairperson Hon. Boniface Toterebuka Bamwenda expressed satisfaction with the process.
“The exercise is good, the mood is good. The environment is good. The candidates have a lot of vigor. And they have picked the forms. We are just waiting to see what happens next on nomination day,” Bamwenda said.
He emphasized the critical vetting process ahead, stating, “Have you really filled the forms? Are you a card-holding member? Are you in the members’ register? The academic qualifications, A’ level or its equivalent, the proposers, the seconders, and the other five delegates from the four geographical regions of Uganda – all of these will be considered.”
The candidates will be returning the forms for formal submission on Tuesday, May 6 and Wednesday, May 7, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, according to the commission officials.
As the party braces for nomination week, all eyes are now on how FDC will navigate this defining moment, balancing democratic competition with the need for internal cohesion ahead of the high-stakes 2026 elections.
