FDC sets nomination dates for MPs, LC5 chairpersons

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The opposition party, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), has announced nomination dates for all electoral positions at the district level.

According to the party’s chief electoral commissioner, Boniface Toterebuka Bamwenda, the move is intended to reduce travel costs for members who would otherwise have to visit the party headquarters to pick up nomination forms.

While addressing journalists at the FDC offices in Najjanankumbi, Kampala, on June 5, 2025, Toterebuka said the party had decided to decentralise the process of obtaining and submitting nomination forms.

“The party is concerned about the financial challenges of our people who would be made to travel from their districts to come to the headquarters for nominations, yet the same could be done through our able leadership at the districts,” he said.

All party members intending to run for any position have been advised to collect and return their nomination forms at their respective district party offices, in accordance with the FDC’s electoral guidelines.

Toterebuka said the process would be overseen by designated district electoral supervisors and their deputies.

He also announced adjustments to the party’s electoral roadmap to allow FDC leaders, MPs and NEC members to support the nomination of youth, elders, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) through June 10, 2025.

According to the nomination timeline, the collection of nomination forms for all positions—including councillors, sub-county chairpersons, MPs, LC5 chairpersons, and municipality mayors—will continue until 11 June 2025.

The nomination of councillors and sub-county chairpersons will take place from June 12–13, 2025, while the nomination of MPs, LC5 chairpersons and municipality mayors is scheduled for June 16–17, 2025.

Bamwenda said the party had allocated the period from June 18 to July 1, 2025, for consensus-building and the vetting process. Party primaries for all levels are set to take place on July 2, 2025.

Nomination fees

Bamwenda revealed that the party had set nomination fees for various leadership positions. Those aspiring to run for parliament seats will be required to pay sh100,000, while candidates for district or city chairperson positions will need to pay sh50,000.

Aspiring sub-county chairpersons, municipal mayors, or division mayors will be required to pay sh20,000, while all councillor candidates, from district to lower council level, will not be charged any nomination fees.

Bamwenda emphasised that all payments must be deposited directly into the party’s official account, registered under the name “Forum for Democratic Change.”

He noted that any candidate who fails to meet this payment requirement will not be considered for nomination.

He added that all district electoral supervisors had been instructed to strictly enforce the guidelines without exception.

Special interest groups

Bamwenda announced that the nomination process for special interest groups officially began on June 2, 2025, and will continue until June 10, 2025.

He said the nominations are focused on key groups at the village council level, including the youth, older persons, and persons with disabilities (PWDs).

To streamline the process and ensure smooth participation, the party has granted sub-county chairpersons the authority to endorse candidates from these special interest groups.

Bamwenda urged all interested members to collect nomination forms from their respective sub-counties, secure the necessary endorsements, and return the completed forms to their sub-county supervisors before the deadline.

The party has scheduled elections for village older persons on 16 June 2025, PWDs on June 17, 2025, and village youth committees on June 19, 2025.