Former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party president and current party envoy, Comrade Dan Matsiko Malcom, who is also a presidential candidate for the 2026-2031 elections, has threatened legal action against President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for allegedly plagiarizing his infrastructure development manifesto.
Matsiko claims that in early March 2025, he officially released his 100-day action plan, outlining his agenda upon assuming office as President of Uganda. His manifesto focused on solving Uganda’s infrastructure challenges, particularly enhancing connectivity in Northern Uganda.
One of his key proposals was the construction of a second bridge at Karuma to ensure seamless transport and foster economic growth in the region.
However, Matsiko alleges that shortly after publishing his manifesto, the ruling government, led by President Museveni, copied and incorporated his proposals into its own development agenda without any acknowledgment.
According to Matsiko, his manifesto emphasized the following key projects:
- Construction of a second bridge at Karuma to complement the existing one and enhance regional trade and transport.
- A strategic railway bridge inside Murchison Falls National Park, spanning 108 km from Pakwach Bridge to Karuma, connecting Nwoya District and the Bunyoro sub-region.
- Boosting economic growth by facilitating the efficient transportation of goods and services.
- Enhancing national unity, security, and regional integration through improved infrastructure.
- Promoting tourism by easing access to Uganda’s most visited national park.
Matsiko condemned what he described as a long-standing habit of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) government of copying opposition manifestos to mislead voters. He argued that such plagiarism in politics:
- Damages credibility and integrity, as a manifesto reflects a candidate’s unique vision and leadership style.
- Violates intellectual property laws and political ethics by using someone else’s ideas without acknowledgment.
- Exposes the NRM as unprepared and lacking originality, which could erode Ugandans’ faith in its leadership.
“The NRM government has lost public trust by stealing my manifesto. Voters now see them as unprepared and unqualified, while I stand out as the true visionary candidate for Uganda’s future,” Matsiko stated.
Matsiko announced that he is working with his legal team to file a formal lawsuit against President Museveni for illegally appropriating his manifesto. He challenged the NRM government to:
- Develop its own manifesto based on Uganda’s real challenges and solutions instead of copying from the opposition.
- Consult experts, community leaders, and citizens for innovative ideas.
- Use original policies and strategies to earn public trust.
- Demonstrate true leadership by presenting independent and implementable policies.
Matsiko further expressed his frustration, stating, “I must drag the NRM party led by President Museveni to court for stealing the manifesto ideas of a presidential candidate. NRM leaders are lazy in coming up with innovative, refined ideas to take Uganda on a positive development trajectory from 2026 to 2031. The copy-and-paste habit will not take Ugandans to the promised land.”
As Uganda heads toward the 2026 elections, Matsiko remains confident that Ugandans will choose a leader who brings fresh ideas, integrity, and real solutions, not recycled promises.
