Kampala – The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Uganda’s once-dominant opposition party, faces its most severe existential crisis yet as bitter internal divisions and regional power plays threaten to tear the party apart ahead of the 2026 elections. What began as healthy competition for the presidential flag bearer position has exposed dangerous factionalism, with the party now split between the Najjanankumbi faction led by Patrick Amuriat and Secretary General Nathan Nandala Mafabi, and the Katonga faction loyal to founding leader Dr. Kizza Besigye.
Eastern Domination Sparks Rebellion
The current leadership contest has laid bare a troubling reality – the FDC is increasingly becoming an Eastern Uganda project under Amuriat and Mafabi’s stewardship. All major contenders for the flag bearer position – Amuriat (Eastern), Mafabi (Eastern), Ekanya (Eastern), and Adepo (Eastern) – hail from the same region, marking a dramatic departure from the party’s tradition of national representation.
This stands in stark contrast to the FDC’s golden era when leadership reflected Uganda’s diversity. When Dr. Besigye (Western) served as president, Alice Alaso (Eastern) was Secretary General while the late Suleiman Kigundu and Hon. Sam Njuba chaired the party, with Hon. Odongo Otto (Northern) leading the Youth League. Similarly, during Gen. Mugisha Muntu’s (Western) presidency, the leadership included Ambassador Waswa Birigwa (Central) as chairman and Northern Uganda’s Prof. Latigo and Rt. Hon. Betty Aol as Leaders of Opposition.
Mafabi’s Insatiable Ambition
At the center of the storm is Secretary General Nathan Nandala Mafabi, whose relentless accumulation of power positions has become a source of growing discontent within the party. The Budadiri West MP, who has held his parliamentary seat since FDC’s formation in 2001, simultaneously serves as:
– Long-time chairman of Bugisu Cooperative Union (nearly two decades)
– World Bank consultant for multiple decades
– Aspiring president of auditors and public accountants associations
“Mafabi doesn’t just want to lead – he wants to own every leadership position in sight,” complains a party insider. “He strategically appoints weak deputies who can’t challenge him and routinely ignores calls from party members. This isn’t leadership – it’s political hoarding.”
The Amuriat-Mafabi Game Plan
Credible reports indicate Patrick Amuriat may be playing a cynical political game – collecting nomination forms only to later withdraw in favor of Mafabi, replicating the infamous “Mubarak Munyagwa trick.” This maneuver would effectively lock out other regions from top leadership and cement Eastern Uganda’s dominance.
The scheme has been facilitated by a disputed delegates list that suspiciously includes:
– Waswa Birigwa still listed as party chairman
– Harold Kaija as deputy secretary general
– Even the late Hon. Cecilia Ogwal among supposed delegates
“This fraudulent list is proof they’re rigging the process before it begins,” alleges a Katonga faction official.
Matsiko’s Nationalist Crusade
Amid this turmoil, Party Envoy Dan Matsiko Malcom has emerged as the standard-bearer for a truly national FDC. His campaign directly challenges the Eastern oligarchy, demanding:
1. Regional balance in leadership positions
2. An end to backroom deals and factional politics
3. Restoration of the party’s founding democratic principles
4. Grassroots empowerment beyond political appointees
“Matsiko represents what FDC used to be – a national movement, not an Eastern tribal outfit,” argues a Western Uganda delegate. “Look at how Central Region’s DP Joab Busingye gets token appointments while real power remains in Eastern hands.”
The Looming Exodus
The crisis has reached a boiling point, with Acholi leaders threatening mass defections if reconciliation fails. Similar rumblings come from Western and Central Uganda, where members feel reduced to “spectators in their own party.”
Some are already discussing forming a new political entity, warning that FDC risks permanent irrelevance if it continues on its current path. As one disillusioned member puts it: “How can we challenge NRM’s misrule when we’re replicating their worst tendencies?”
2026: Make-or-Break Moment
With the next elections approaching, FDC stands at a crossroads:
– Continue with the same leadership that has presided over decline?
– Or embrace Matsiko’s vision of renewal and national unity?
The choice delegates make will determine whether FDC regains its place as Uganda’s leading opposition force or fades into political oblivion. One thing is certain – the time for empty promises and backroom deals is over. Uganda’s opposition deserves better.
