The Opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate, Mr Nathan Nandala Mafabi, has slammed the recycling of various poverty alleviation projects that he said have never lifted Ugandans out of poverty.
While campaigning in Tubur Sub-county and Ojom in Oculoi Sub-county, Soroti District, Mr Nandala, instead, said his party has a more effective and credible strategy to lift Ugandans out of poverty. ‘For the last seven electoral cycles, President Museveni has dangerously used anti-poverty slogans which have failed to remove the people from poverty,’ he told supporters yesterday.
‘In 1996, it was Entandikwa; in 2001, Okulembeka; in 2006, Bonabagagawale; in 2011 Prosperity for All; in 2016, Operation Wealth Creation; in 2021, Emyooga, and most recently PDM in 2026. These programmes have only helped him to cross the political bridge,’ he added.
Mr Nandala said the FDC government, if voted into power come January 15, 2026, will prioritise stabilising agricultural sector, which remains the backbone of most rural communities. He highlighted the need for a comprehensive national crop insurance scheme to protect farmers from losses due to drought, pests, and unpredictable weather.
‘I have seen gardens of maize dry. As FDC, we will introduce insurance schemes so farmers no longer suffer alone,’ he said. He also pledged to revive the Cooperative Bank and establish an agricultural bank to provide affordable credit tailored to farmers and smallholder producers, adding that these institutions would be rolled out within his first year in office.
On youth empowerment, Mr Nandala promised to offer subsidised motorcycles at Shs2m to support youth employment and give each university graduate Shs1m upon completing their studies as part of an economic starter package.
The FDC presidential candidate attributed the country’s poor service delivery to what he termed widespread corruption ‘presided over by President Museveni himself,’ claiming that graft has crippled key sectors such as health and education.
Mr Jonathan Erau, the FDC parliamentary candidate for Dakabela County, pledged to champion issues affecting his constituency, including limited water sources, poor roads, inadequate health infrastructure, and low teacher staffing, once elected.