By Aggrey Baba
In politics, they say a manifesto is like a mirror, which reflects the dreams a party carries and the promises it hopes will draw hearts to its side. Last week, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) stepped forward to show Ugandans what it believes the future should look like under Nathan Nandala Mafabi, its flagbearer in the 2026 presidential race.
With the words, “We do not want to be known by what we oppose, but by what we stand for and what we offer,” the once-dominant opposition party set the tone for a document it says is not just about political rivalry but about rebuilding Uganda.
At the core of the FDC blueprint is governance, where the party promises to reinstate the two-term presidential limit, roll back what it sees as excessive presidential powers, and ensure that civil service jobs are secured only through open, transparent competition, while the media and civil society, long caught in the dragnet of state restrictions, are promised complete freedom of operation.
Perhaps its boldest governance pledge is cutting government to size (shrinking Parliament from over 420 MPs to fewer than 200, limiting Cabinet to 21 ministers), and empowering technocrats such as permanent secretaries and directors to drive efficiency.
Mafabi, a statistician, lawyer, accountant, and long-time critic of waste, casts his lot with an economy-first approach. FDC’s manifesto pledges five million new jobs within five years, targeting youth and women as the chief beneficiaries. The party envisions affordable credit through special lending windows and promises a stable fiscal environment by balancing spending with improved revenues.
Agriculture takes center stage, as FDC promises to raise its budget share from 3% to 10% in three years, establish a national agricultural bank, and revive farmers’ cooperatives. The manifesto also hints at a radical reform in land management, pledging a judicial inquiry into land grabbing and a mass titling programme for three million parcels.
To fight poverty, FDC proposes a direct cash-dividend scheme, where households would benefit from oil and mineral revenue, an idea reminiscent of resource-sharing models in oil-rich countries.
The Najjanankumbi political outfit also places corruption in its crosshairs, vowing to “locate and recover” all stolen public funds, prosecute both public and private sector culprits, and strengthen anti-corruption watchdogs. Yet, these pledges arrive under the shadow of accusations that the party itself accepted “dirty money” from Museveni during the 2021 elections, a cloud Mafabi and FDC leaders must wrestle with on the campaign trail.
On health, the party pledges to raise a nurse’s starting salary to UGX 650,000 and a doctor’s to UGX 3.5m, introduce universal health insurance, and roll out a national ambulance and air rescue system.
For education, primary teachers would earn UGX 650,000, secondary teachers UGX 1m, and pupils would benefit from a publicly funded school-feeding programme.
In the energy sector, FDC says it will push Uganda’s power generation capacity to 4,000 megawatts and invest heavily in renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and geothermal. Procurement laws, notorious for delays, would be overhauled so that no project approval takes longer than six months.
Experts, according to the NewVision have met the document with cautious eyes, with some saying many of the promises echo government programmes already in place. Others questioned feasibility, especially on reducing Parliament, saying it would require merging constituencies, which risks under-representation in large districts.
The Blue flag bearer Nathan Nandala Mafabi, is no stranger to the political scene, having represented Budadiri West in Parliament since 2001 after leaving his position as an assistant commissioner at URA. The 59-year-old is a Makerere-trained economist, lawyer, and certified accountant, who also earned a reputation as chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee by exposing corruption scandals that rocked the government. He later served as Leader of the Opposition in Parliament and once vied for FDC presidency, losing to Mugisha Muntu.
Today, he is banking on his Bugisu base and cooperative leadership record to propel him onto the national stage.
Whether FDC’s manifesto will inspire Ugandans remains to be seen, but for now, it is a political offering rich in promises (from slashing government to cash dividends for the poor) but also shadowed by doubts about feasibility and credibility.
As 2026 edges closer, Nandala and his party must convince Ugandans that their vision is more than words on paper. After all, a bird is known by its feathers, but a leader is known by the promises he keeps, a proverb goes.(For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
