FDC unveils names of new women, youth nation leaders

After holding the national delegates’ conference in which a new national executive committee (NEC), the highest leadership organ of the party was elected, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has held elections for the leadership of national women executive committee (women's league) and national youth leaders of the party.

In the highly competitive race in the elections held on Thursday at the party headquarters in Najjanankumbi, Kampala, Agnes Kisakye and Francis Adepo emerged winners and will be at the helm for a five-year term, ending 2028 as chairperson, for the party’s women league and national youth council respectively.

A total of 284 youth party delegates from across the country converged at Najjanankumbi to elect the national youth executive committee, while the women's league election attracted 258 women delegates who participated in the polls.

Contestants in any position in the youth executive did not exceed 30 years of age.

In both executives, national chairpersons and four vice chairpersons (for east, north, west and central), were elected. The others office bearers elected are secretary general, secretary for mobilization, treasurer, secretary for research and publicity.

In addition, secretaries; for legal, human rights and constitutional affairs, people with disabilities, education, sports and students and, health and environment were also elected.

The position of national youth chairperson, which was won by Adepo, attracted a total of 6 candidates. Brian Okori who was one of them was disqualified at the last minute even when his name had been included on the ballot paper.

The chairman of the party’s electoral commission Boniface Bamwenda said Okori did not meet the requirement of a delegate.

With just an hour to the start of the FDC youth election, chaos erupted leading Okori and his supporters to hurl insults to the party’s electoral commission (EC) chairperson, Bamwenda.

rian Oko(seated right) reacting after being removed from the ballot during national youth leaders elections held on Thursday at the party headquarters in Najjanankumbi, Kampala. Photo by Benjamin Ssemwanga

The chaos broke immediately the EC announced that Okori had been disqualified from the race even if his name appeared on the ballot paper.

Okori’s camp accused the EC of not being fair and went on to allege that the commission had already predetermined results from the election.

“The EC is being unfair to me and I challenge them to cite form me a clause in the FDC constitution and election guidelines that forbids me from standing for chairperson of the youth league,” Okori complained.

Apart from Adepo and Okori, Manful Abeneitwe, Swabrah Nakabira (only female on the position), Boniface Ocieng and Nauries Fredrick Okot were the other candidates vying for the position of national youth chairperson.

The position of the party’s women league chairperson attracted two candidates, Hellen Achan and Agnes Kisakye.

Shortly after she was declared winner, Kisakye promised to work very hard and try to revive the women's league of the party.

On his part, Adepo explained that he was to use the position to lift the youth wing of the party to be strong both in the politics of the party and that of the country.

Adepo said; “I am going to start with what my manifesto has been reading through our campaigns. I want to revitalize our political think tank in the youth and make it\ stronger.”

New FDC women league elected executive

CHAIRPERSON WOMEN LEAGUE- Agnes Kisakye

VICE CHAIRPERSON- EAST - Juliet Agnes Kadama

VICE CHAIRPERSON- CENTRAL - Zam Nanfuka

VICE CHAIRPERSON- NORTH - Kia Florence Elupu

VICE CHAIRPERSON- WESTERN - Beatrice Adyeri Kabasiita

SECRETARY GENERAL - Oliver Nairuba

TREASURER GENERAL – Dorothy Lunkuse

SECRETARY FOR RESEARCH AND POLICY - Judith Joan Akullu

LEGAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS - Janet Oroma

EDUCATION, SPORTS AND STUDENTS - Mercy Ayo

HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT - Teddy Nyangoma

SECRETARY FOR MOBILISATION - Esther Biira

New FDC women's league elected executive

YOUTH LEAGUE CHAIRPERSON – Francis Adepo

VICE CHAIRPERSON – CENTRAL - Ibrahim Sserugga

VICE CHAIRPERSON – NORTHERN - George Onzima

VICE CHAIRPERSON – WESTERN - Amos Bacwa

VICE CHAIRPERSON – EAST - Phiona Nakayenze

SECRETARY GENERAL - Mary Gorrety Atemo

SECRETARY FOR MOBILIZATION - Andrew Ssebitosi

TREASURER - Mercy Marion Alupo

SECRETARY FOR RESEARCH AND PUBLICITY - Patricia Elubu Ayoo

LEGAL, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS - Catherine Okot Adiro

EDUCATION, SPORTS, AND STUDENTS - Derrick Magabo

WOMEN YOUTH LEAGUE - Shamim Nansubuga

HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT - Timothy Muganzi