From roads to poverty and taxes: What Jinja residents want FDC's Nandala to fix

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The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party presidential flagbearer, Nathan Nandala Mafabi, was Friday expected to conclude his Busoga sub-region campaigns in Jinja.

The seasoned FDC politician continued to preach his fixing-the-economy gospel to the people of Busoga, just as he had done in Buikwe, Buvuma, Iganga, Buyende and Kamuli districts.

In Bugembe town in Jinja city, voters said they want Nandala, if elected president, to address poverty, poor infrastructure, and the rising cost of living.

Naiagaga Sofia, an aspiring woman councillor for Wanyama, Katende, and Nakanyonyi divisions, urged him to prioritise economic revival in the region.

“We are very, very poor. As a councillor, I travel to other regions and I see the difference. Busoga is far behind. The government has forgotten us for too long. Nandala must fix the economy.”

Gumula Moses, a boda boda rider, said the poor state of roads in Jinja is affecting his livelihood.

“My motorcycle is only three years old, but it’s worn out already. It should have lasted seven to 10 years. The roads are terrible. When it rains, it's a mess; when it’s sunny, there’s too much dust. Only the main highway has tarmac. I want Nandala to fix the roads first.”

Wilber Giso, a street vendor who sells chapattis, called on the FDC candidate to address high taxes on essential goods.

“I used to buy baking flour at 3,500 shillings, but now it's 7,000 shillings. Prices for cooking oil and other items are also too high. Yet, I can't increase the price of chapatis because people won’t buy. We are tired of making losses. These taxes are killing us.”

The FDC wants to turn the tables this time around in Jinja.

In the 2021 presidential election, FDC presidential candidate Patrick Oboi Amuriat got 1,113 votes from Jinja, NRM’s Yoweri Museveni got 23,005, while NUP’s Robert Kyagulanyi took the day with 36,847 votes, according to the Electoral Commission tallied results.

After wrapping up his engagements in Busoga, Nandala is expected to head to the west, with campaigns in Bundibugyo and Kasese on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, as he continues his nationwide quest for the presidency.