The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) is on the brink of a decisive moment as the party’s Council of Elders prepares to announce its preferred party president and presidential flagbearer ahead of Uganda’s 2026 general elections.
The announcement, expected today July 29, 2025, will determine whether current party president Patrick Amuriat or Secretary General Nathan Nandala Mafabi will lead the party into a crucial political contest.
The decision follows months of internal campaigning between the two contenders and culminates in an intense consensus-building exercise aimed at avoiding a divisive delegates’ vote, scheduled for July 31, 2025.
According to party insiders, the elders’ intervention is a strategic effort to preserve unity and prevent the political fragmentation that has historically plagued opposition movements in Uganda.
“We’ve been holding meetings with elders across the country, and today they are part of the final process,” said Nandala in a post-meeting interview.
Reflecting on past internal contests, he recounted his loss to Gen. Mugisha Muntu in 2012 and emphasized his willingness to support Amuriat if announced over hi. “We’ve fought together, walked together, even shared a bed. We are brothers,” he remarked, portraying a united front despite the rivalry, in a sense of the race.
Both candidates have expressed commitment to the party’s internal democratic processes, acknowledging that they have subjected themselves to scrutiny and consensus mediation. Amuriat confirmed that they agreed to abide by the outcome of the elder-led process, emphasizing the need for a harmonious resolution.
This move toward co
nsensus stems from lessons learned in previous leadership contests, which caused deep divisions and weakened the party’s organizational strength in the past years.
“We’re aware of the political cost of disunity,” Amuriat cautioned.
“This is why we are committed to reaching an amicable solution that will prevent another internal rupture.”
The elders’ meeting follows a national consultation effort involving delegates, religious leaders, and grassroots supporters, all urging the candidates to resolve their competition amicably.
As the party waits for the elder’s verdict, the stakes are high, not only for the individuals involved but for the future of FDC’s position in Uganda’s opposition politics.
The outcome of this internal reckoning could either reaffirm the FDC’s democratic credentials or risk repeating the cycle of fragmentation that has weakened opposition parties in the past.
One must go down: Elders to announce FDC’s best presidential candidate today
The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) elders are to announce the most suitable candidate for the party’s presidential flag bearer ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Two candidates including; the party’s president Patrick Amuriat and his Secretary Genela have been campaigning for the past three month ahead of the delegates conference scheduled for July 31, 2025.
This follows a whole day elder’s meeting at the party headquarters which was aimed at pushing for a consensus between the candidates to have single candidate.
“We have been meeting elders throughout the country and today they have been part of the process. We look forward for positive results from it. I want ti assure everybody that I Nandala have ever contested for leadership position in FDC in 2012, with my brother Gen. Mugisha Muntu, I lost with 32 votes, I greed to go behind him, but for him when he lost to Amuriat, he left,” he noted in an interview shortly after the elders meeting.
He said whatever decision is made by the elders, he is ready to serve behind Amuriat.
“But should they give it to me I believe, he will also be with me. We have been brothers, we have fought together, walked allover, shared a bed, mention it, we are brothers,” he noted.
“Now I want to tell Uganda, that these two poducts you see here, are the best for you and if any of us goes through, would be the best president for this country. This country is our country, no body applied to be born here and it’s the best for all of us,” he added.
Amuriat said they both agreed to subject themselves to the processes of the party which determined that both of them were fit to contest in election for the flagbearer of the FDC.
“We have accepted also to engage in consensus,” he noted.
The meeting of the elders at the party head offices was preceded by a series me meetings that happened across the country with delegates, religious leaders, ordinary cistzens and elders who advised them to seat down and speak to each other as friends, as brothers coming from the same family.
“And so, I have presented my case to the elders who I hope will be able to advise this process in my favour, I believe and after all that is done and said we will be able to reach a consensus,” he said.
He stressed that they want to reach an amicable position.
He said they are mindful of the fact that elections in past have caused a split in the party, disenchantment in party, has caoused political weakening of the organization and they do not want the repeat of the same
“So, at the moment, the delegates conference is on the balance depending on the product that will be able to deliver through this consensus building exercise,” he added.
