By Mulengera Reporters
Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate, Nathan Nandala Mafabi, over the weekend found himself in a tense standoff with security forces as police attempted to block his access to neglected, eviction-hit communities in Sebei sub-region.
The standoff unfolded as Mafabi’s convoy was blocked from accessing Rwanda–Kapkwata Forest Village, a settlement housing people displaced from government-controlled plantations and forest reserves. Despite the police presence, Mafabi refused to be stopped.
He stepped out of his car and walked on foot to the village, drawing emotional applause from residents who say they have been ignored by the government for years.
Later, he proceeded to Binyinyi Town Council in Kween District, where he was again met by enthusiastic crowds.
Earlier in the day, Mafabi had received a warm welcome in Bukwo District.
With a grin on his face, he expressed gratitude towards the swarm that filled the Bukwo–Suwam road to greet him.
He asked each of them to become an ambassador of the FDC manifesto, which he described as appropriately designed to bring change in the January 2026 general elections.
He assured the mammoth gathering that a better life was possible one where Ugandans can afford basic needs and live with dignity.
He promised to improve agricultural production by establishing a cooperative bank and reviving the Sebei Cooperative Society to boost the sale of farm produce and put money in the farmers’ pockets.
The Sebei Cooperative Society is currently inactive, like many across the country.
Mafabi, who heads the Bugisu Cooperative Union the only active one says he will ensure all cooperatives function once elected president.
He also spoke to the plight of the Benet, a minority tribe living on the Elgon Mountains.
Mafabi promised to restore them to their original settlements, saying he understands their suffering more than anyone else.
According to him, no one would be harassed for living near mountains or lake shores under his leadership.
Locals allege that at least one person is killed daily by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) officers for fetching firewood, picking herbal medicine, or gardening around the Elgon forest reserve.
To Nandala, such tragedy would be history once he takes office.
He believes communities near natural resources should benefit from them for both food and income to buy what they lack.
The tension with police escalated when security forces blocked Mafabi and his supporters from reaching the Rwanda Internally Displaced People’s Camp, where residents evicted from Kapkwata Softwood Plantations now live under squalid conditions.
Undeterred, Mafabi again walked past the police, determined to hear from the people.
Voters of Rwanda in Kween District, who have been living in this displacement camp, assured the FDC candidate of their total support.
They recounted the suffering they have endured since their eviction, and promised to vote for him in 2026.
While addressing the internally displaced persons, Mafabi questioned the government’s priorities.
“Why would a government care more for animals than for its people?” he asked, vowing to reverse the current policy and prioritize human dignity and welfare.
Residents at the camp who lack latrines, clean water, schools, and medical care say they have suffered enough and are yawning for change.
They revealed that hundreds of families were evicted, and that the rocky terrain makes it nearly impossible to bury their dead, forcing many to live without dignity even in grief.
Through all of this, Mafabi’s defiance in the face of police intervention has only cemented his image as a man of the people willing to walk, literally, into the heart of Uganda’s forgotten communities, no matter the resistance. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
