James Nathan Nandala Mafabi, the long-serving opposition lawmaker from Sironko District, has officially joined Uganda’s 2026 presidential race, becoming the fourth candidate to be nominated.
On Wednesday, the 59-year-old economist was presented at the Electoral Commission headquarters in Lweza, along Entebbe Road, accompanied by his wife, Flora Mafabi. For the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), his nomination marks a new chapter: this is the first time the party has placed him at the top of the ticket, after years of rallying behind figures such as Dr. Kizza Besigye and Patrick Amuriat.
Justice Simon Byabakama, the head of the Electoral Commission, confirmed his candidacy, stating: “We have verified all these papers and we find everything okay. Therefore … I declare Nandala Mafabi James Nathan a duly nominated candidate in respect to the Presidential elections of 2026, having fulfilled all the requirements of nomination.”
Campaign message rooted in economic revival
Moments later, Mafabi stepped before reporters with a blunt assessment of Uganda’s struggles.
“I’m a worker. I’m a servant, and that’s why I’m in this race,” he said. “We want to fix the economy. People are poor. At least 84 percent of Ugandans are dependent on 26 percent of Ugandans.”
His pledges touched familiar frustrations: unemployment, especially among young people, and the erosion of once-strong agricultural cooperatives. “Our youth are suffering. Many of them are taking drugs, not because they want but because they are unemployed,” he told the press. “Our country does not care about farmers. Many of them have abandoned cotton, tea, and coffee, among others.”
At the heart of his campaign is a promise to restore the cooperative sector, once seen as a backbone for farmers. Mafabi claimed that Uganda loses “about Shs10 trillion to corruption every year” — money he argued could be redirected to farmers and job creation.
A challenge to long-term rule
Though he credited President Yoweri Museveni with restoring stability decades ago, Mafabi argued that economic leadership requires new hands — and a trained economist at that. His nomination comes at a time when Museveni, 81, is seeking yet another term in office, backed by the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
So far, the list of confirmed candidates includes Museveni, Elton John Mabirizi of the Conservative Party, and Robert Kasibante of the National Peasants Party (NPP). Robert Kyagulanyi, known widely as Bobi Wine, and former army commander Gen. Mugisha Muntu are expected to join the race in the coming days.
FDC insists it is still a force
Within his party, leaders struck a defiant tone. FDC spokesperson John Kikonyogo told reporters that the nomination process underscored their organizational strength. “The EC did not give us the verification certificate because they like us, but because we met the requirements,” he said. “The law demands 100 signatures from at least 98 districts, but we had more than 500 in most districts because we didn’t want to go wrong.”
He added: “FDC is a very strong party. It has been on the ground and well grounded. Most of you are trying to write us off, but maybe some individuals are talking too much. We receded, stopped talking, went on the ground, and now you can see the fruits of going on the ground.”
Looking ahead
Mafabi’s candidacy opens a new chapter for Uganda’s largest opposition party, which has often struggled with internal divisions and defections. His campaign leans heavily on his reputation as an economist and his 25 years representing Budadiri West in Parliament.
Whether those credentials will translate into national momentum remains to be seen. For now, Mafabi has placed his bet on a simple message: that Uganda’s prosperity depends on reviving the cooperative spirit and giving young people a reason to hope.
