FDC submits over one million signatures for Nandala’s nomination

KAMPALA - The Forum for Democratic Change's (FDC) electoral commission chairperson, Boniface Toterebuka Bamwenda and the deputy secretary general, Gloria Paga, accompanied by jubilant supporters, on Friday submitted endorsement signatures for party presidential flag bearer, Nathan Nandala Mafabi.

The party leaders travelled in blue-coloured double cabin and a saloon car.
Driving along   Kampala streets, they attracted sizable crowds followed by boda boda cyclists.

At the electoral commission grounds at Plot 1-3/5, Seventh Street, Industrial Area,
they were joined by FDC Vice Chairperson for Western Uganda, Robert Centenary Franco and Secretary for Youth, Francis Adepo, among other leaders.

“In accordance with the presidential election’s guidelines as enshrined in the political parties and organisations act 2005 (as amended), we delivered signatures of supporters from all the 146 districts of Uganda endorsing the candidature of Nathan Nandala Mafabi to the electoral commission,” Toterebuka said as his team presented the files containing the required documents.

He also reported that his team collected more than 2 million signatures from 136 districts, with a minimum of 300 signatures per district as a legal requirement, he added.
Mandala, the Budadiri West County Member of Parliament (MP) in Sironko district, who has been the FDC party secretary general garnered a significant number of signatures in a short time, demonstrating his support for his candidacy.

The signatures will now be verified by the electoral commission ahead of the presidential nominations slated for September 23–24, and we shall be waiting to receive our certificate of compliance to pave the way for the nomination of our candidate, she insisted.

FDC electoral commission chairperson Toterebuka Bamwenda and FDC deputy secretary general, Gloria Paga delivering files of Nandala signatures at EC headquarters on Friday. (Credit: Isaac Nuwagaba)

Jonathan Kirimanja, the EC supervisor, said that FDC collected the required signatures, which shall again be subjected to further verification before a certificate of compliance for nominations is given.

“If you comply, you will be given the certificate of compliance, and if it is established that those who signed are not voters, the signatures shall be bounced again until the process is completed,” he threatened.

Interacting with the press, Centenary Franco urged the government to synchronise the National Identification Number (NIN) system with voter location slips to enhance credibility and transparency of the electoral process ahead of the 2026 general elections.

Referring to what he witnessed during the nomination of local government aspirants, Franco said that a number of contestants were rejected even when they presented valid National Identification Cards.

“Let me hope that this shall not be the system the government plans to use to disfranchise the voters with these incorrect and unverifiable NIN numbers,” Franco challenged.

Synchronisation, if done, can help in verifying voters’ identities and reduce electoral malpractices, he suggested.

“This can ensure that voter registration data is accurate and up-to-date. This integration, if done can promote transparency in the electoral process and boost confidence in the system,” Franco emphasised.