Rukungiri- The Forum for Democratic change (FDC) party presidential candidate Nandala Mafabi has received a hostile reception in Rukungiri District with residents accusing him of selling their party to president Museveni and his NRM government.
The Anger residents also accused him of aiding president Museveni in the arrest of their son Rtd.Dr .Col Kizza Besigye.
At around 3:00pm Nandala Mafabi arrived in Rukungiri Town with his team. He was accompanied by Party Chairman Jack Sabiiti , Western Region Vice Chairperson Robert Centenary among others.
Unlike the usual warm receptions for top opposition leaders from Rukungiri people, Mafabi and his convoy drove quietly through the main town and they only parked near the Rukungiri taxi park where they addressed a small crowd of people for about 10 minutes because many looked uninterested in his words.
Addressing the small crowd of people which was full of boda boda and Ghetto guys, Mafabi promised good usage of taxpayers’ money.
“ My regime will use your money ( money collected from taxes) to deliver services at the grassroots level and I will also start good programs which will fix money in your pockets ”. Mr Mafabi added.
On the issue of Dr. Besigye , the FDC party presidential candidate Mafabi denied involvement in Besigye’s arrest and pledged to secure the release of Dr Besigye once elected as the president of Uganda.
‘’ If elected into the office of the president I will secure the release of our son Dr Kizza Besigye and other political prisoners. I also promise to fight corruption which has greatly hindered the development of country Uganda’’. Mr Mafabi said.
On the issue of selling the FDC party to president Museveni and his NRM government, Mafabi described it as allegations terming it ‘’baseless and falseful ’’.
‘’ You’re accusing me for no good reason, I did not sell your party. The party is still in existence and whoever feels to join us is highly welcomed. Don’t believe in allegations and baseless issues’’. Mr Mafabi added.
After the rally, Mafabi proceeded to Rubabo Road where he officially opened the district party office, but tensions escalated again as some residents publically confronted him, demanding him leave to Rukungiri immediately which nearly resulted in physical confrontations between locals and Mafabi’s team.
Following the tense scenes, Mafabi and his convoy departed for Kanungu District for another campaign engagement.
Voters on Mafabi’s Campaign visit.
Mr David Mugisha , 34 a resident of Southern division in Rukungiri municipality described Mafabi’s campaign visit to the district as ‘’shameful’’.
‘’ He is wasting his time, As Rukungiri people who shall not vote him neither his party flag bearers because he sold our party which fought for as Rukungiri people. Our son trusted him with our party and he foolishly sold it to president Museveni ‘’. Mr Mugisha told the daily monitor after Mafabi’s rally.
Mr Aloysious Mugarura, the Rukungiri district PFF party Chairperson accused Mafabi for betraying the whole country by selling the party to Mr Museveni and his family.
‘’ If it wasn’t him, we wouldn’t have wasted a lot of resources in forming a new party. A lot was wasted, our son is rotting in jail and he is here wasting our time. Let him campaign in other districts and leave Rukungiri alone ‘’. Mr Mugarura said.
Mr Mugarura added ‘’ he will not do anything good to develop our country. Instead he may this time sell our country to foreigners because he has already shown us his heart and greed for money. It is from this point that I want to ask the Rukungiri people not to vote for him come 15th.January 2026’’.
Ms Hellen Baguma of Buyanja town council in Rukungiri district said ‘’ Mafabi is a Ugandan like others and he has a right to campaign anywhere across Uganda because he was cleared by Electoral commission to participate in these elections as a presidential candidate for FDC party ‘’.
‘’Well, I will not vote him as my president because of his character. His character is full of greediness that’s why he sold our party. This time around I will vote Mr Museveni as my president for reasons well known by me’’ ,Ms Baguma added.
According to the Electoral Commission’s roadmap, Mr Mafabi will tomorrow 13th December 2026 continue with his campaign visit in Kigezi sub-county and he will campaign in Kabale, Rubanda, and Kisoro districts.
The arrest of Dr Besigye.
Besigye was arrested on November 16, 2024, in Nairobi, Kenya, alongside his aide Obeid Lutale. Both are currently remanded at Luzira Prison on charges of treachery and unlawful possession of firearms. Prosecutors claim that between February 2023 and November 2024, the duo held meetings in Geneva, Athens, and Nairobi, where they allegedly sought logistical support and identified military targets in Uganda, intending to undermine the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
