Thousands of residents on Saturday thronged Arrow Square in Soroti City to welcome Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate Hon. Nathan Nandala Mafabi, as his campaign trail made a powerful stop in the heart of Teso sub-region.
Excitement filled the streets as FDC supporters, local leaders, and residents lined up waving party flags and chanting “FDC oyee!” in a jubilant show of support.
Addressing the charged crowd, Hon. Nandala Mafabi, who also serves as the Leader of Opposition Emeritus in Parliament, began by commending the people of Teso for their warm hospitality and unity.
“I want to thank the people of Teso for welcoming us, the Bagisu, to this great land,” Mafabi said to thunderous applause. “This is a sign that Ugandans are one people, united by shared pain, shared dreams, and a common desire for change.”
Mafabi did not mince words as he took a swipe at President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s 40-year rule, accusing him of wasting public funds on self-promotion instead of addressing pressing needs facing ordinary Ugandans.
“Instead of using money to help the needy, Museveni and his team are busy printing thousands of campaign posters across Uganda,” Mafabi charged.
“That money could buy medicine for hospitals or seeds for farmers. For 40 years, Museveni’s promises have all been lies, empty words meant to keep people poor and dependent.”
Turning to one of the region’s most emotional issues, Mafabi castigated the NRM government for what he termed “deception and delay” in compensating Teso residents for cattle lost during past insurgencies.
“Museveni is a big liar,” Mafabi declared. “He keeps saying every household will receive five cows, that is impossible. He is just buying time.”
Mafabi cited a court ruling that directed government to compensate the people of Teso, Lango, and Acholi for their lost livestock, emphasizing that the law must be respected.
“Museveni should respect the court decisions. The judiciary has spoken, and my government will implement those rulings faithfully. We shall compensate the people of Teso based on scientific market valuations, not guesswork or political games,” he promised.
In an appeal to farmers, Mafabi said the collapse of district farm institutes and cooperative unions under Museveni’s regime had plunged the once-productive Teso sub-region into poverty.
“When Museveni destroyed farm institutes and cooperative societies, he killed the backbone of this region,” Mafabi said. “We are going to rebuild the agricultural sector, restore farm institutes, and bring back the Teso Cooperative Union that used to empower farmers.”
He announced plans to reintroduce cotton growing as a key cash crop and to invest in agricultural research, irrigation, and modern farming technologies.
“Agriculture will be the cornerstone of our economic revival. We shall make farming profitable again so that money reaches the pockets of ordinary Ugandans,” he vowed.
Responding to allegations by President Museveni that Mafabi sold him land belonging to the Bugisu Cooperative Union (BCU), the FDC candidate dismissed the claims as political propaganda.
“Museveni is lying again,” Mafabi said firmly. “I have never sold Bugisu Cooperative Union land to him. That matter is already in court, and the truth will come out. Museveni knows he cannot defeat me politically, so he fabricates lies to tarnish my name.”
FDC Party President Patrick Amuriat Oboi, who hails from Teso, rallied the crowd to place their trust in Mafabi, describing him as a committed cooperator and defender of the people’s interests.
“Mafabi refused to sell off Bugisu Cooperative Union to the NRM government,” Amuriat said. “He has given Museveni headaches, the old man is trembling because Mafabi represents real change.”
Amuriat emphasized that the FDC’s journey to State House had officially begun on September 29, 2025, when the party launched its national campaign.
“We are not here to endorse Museveni as some are claiming. We are here to offer Ugandans a genuine alternative. Mafabi is a man of integrity who commands national respect,” Amuriat declared.
Amuriat also reaffirmed the FDC’s stance on cattle compensation, saying the matter remains central to the party’s agenda for northern and eastern Uganda.
“The people of Teso have cried for years over their lost animals and livelihoods,” he said. “Our government will ensure that every family receives fair compensation for what they lost. It is not a favor, it is a right.”
He urged Teso residents to rally behind Mafabi and the FDC, saying their unity will send a clear message to the ruling government that change is inevitable.
In his concluding remarks, Mafabi reiterated his commitment to fixing Uganda’s struggling economy, fighting corruption, and ensuring equitable distribution of national resources.
“We shall fix the economy and put money in the pockets of the people,” Mafabi said as the crowd erupted in cheers. “For 40 years, Ugandans have been promised miracles that never came. Now it is time to return power and wealth to the people who work for it.”
As night fell on Soroti, jubilant supporters danced, sang FDC anthems, and waved blue flags under the glow of phone lights, a symbolic gesture of hope for a new beginning.
The rally, has been described by political Analyst Andrew Otim as one of the biggest opposition turnouts in the region in recent years.
Otim described Mafabi’s Soroti rally as a major momentum builder for the opposition, signaling renewed energy within the FDC as it seeks to reassert its influence ahead of the 2026 general elections.
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