POLITICS | FDC | BIRIGGWA

KAMPALA - The opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party launched a three-day leadership academy programme aimed at strengthening the capacity of its leaders and remaking its image following its dismal performance in 2021 general elections.  

The programme runs on the theme of 'Building FDC to serve better'.

It was launched on Tuesday at the party’s headquarters in Najjanankumbi, Kampala by the party's national chairman, Wasswa Biriggwa.

FDC thanked the International Republican Institute for partnering with it to make this programme a success.

Participants were taken through campaign strategy, electoral cycle, campaign message, campaign plan, money and politics.

They were also equipped with fundraising skills and personal financial discipline, among others.

Trainers included FDC spokesperson and Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, former Kagoma County MP Frank Nabwiso, and FDC district chairperson for Mbale, Margaret Wokuri.

Ssemujju trained them in how to structure speeches, target audience, party and personal branding, among others, while Dr Nabwiso lectured them about FDC history and its political ideology, world classic ideologies and geopolitical developments.

Wokuri took them through the roles of activist in political party building and the dos and don’ts of an activist

She concluded her session with strategic planning, building tolerance, and co-existence with other political actors.

Rebranding

Observers say FDC is in the process of rebranding itself to reclaim the lead in opposition politics ahead of 2026 polls. The strategy is to unite all party leaders and woo back disgruntled members.

In the 2021 general elections, the FDC did badly at presidential, district, municipality, and lower levels. 

Those elections saw the new National Unity Platform (NUP) party emerge as the second-largest political party in Parliament after the National Resistance Movement (NRM).

NUP has 57 MPs, FDC 31, while Democratic Party and Uganda People’s Congress have nine each. The Justice Forum and People's Progressive Party have one MP each.

NRM has 338 MPs out of 519 in the entire House, excluding ex-officio members. Seventy-three MPs are independents.

In Buganda, FDC has only three MPs, namely Ssemujju Nganda (Kira Municipality), Yusuf Nsibambi (Mawokota South) and Moses Kabusu (Kyamuswa County). In the last Parliament, the party had five MPs from Buganda.