Buikwe/Buvuma — Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential flagbearer Hon. Nathan Nandala Mafabi has officially launched his 2026 campaign trail in Buikwe District, where he opened new party offices and received gifts from supporters before addressing rallies in Buikwe and Buvuma.
Welcomed warmly by FDC members in Nkokonjeru, Mafabi was gifted local produce and traditional items as a gesture of solidarity. “One Uganda, one People,” the party wrote on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, sharing highlights of his visit.
Lake Victoria and Land Rights
On the campaign trail in Buvuma, Mafabi pledged to return Lake Victoria to civilian control, promising to reverse what he described as the unfair takeover of fishing grounds by private companies and security interests.
“They took our land without proper compensation,” said one resident during the rally. “Some of us were paid peanuts, others got nothing. Now we are even being chased off the lake by private security.”
Mafabi assured the crowds that his government would prioritise justice and economic empowerment for communities that depend on the lake:
“My first action as president will be to return Lake Victoria to the people who depend on it. Fishing communities must benefit directly from the resources God gave them.”
Promises to Buvuma
Addressing residents in Buvuma District, Mafabi outlined his plans to spur development by addressing education, health, infrastructure, and energy.
“For over 40 years, NRM has ruled this country, yet our children in Buvuma are still studying in mud-and-wattle classrooms. Roads are impassable, health services are nonexistent, and land rights have been trampled,” Mafabi told supporters.
He pledged to construct a large fish processing factory in Buvuma to support the fishing industry and create jobs for locals.
Focus on Infrastructure and Services
Mafabi linked Uganda’s underdevelopment to weak governance and poor service delivery. He promised to prioritise electricity, roads, and schools in neglected regions:
“Even salary here must be a problem. We need a better education system by fixing the economy. We can bring electricity here—if not hydropower, we can put thermal or solar energy. If you want a good road, electricity, if you want money, if you want a good school, elect me.”
The rallies in Buikwe and Buvuma drew large crowds, with FDC supporters braving dusty island roads to attend. The gatherings reflected the charged atmosphere of Uganda’s 2026 general election campaign, which has already begun to take on the character of large, music-filled political festivals.