Mafabi woos UPC voters in Dokolo amidst Akena woes

DOKOLO - Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential flag bearer James Nathan Nandala Mafabi has condemned the Electoral Commission’s (EC) recent decision to bar Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) leader Jimmy Akena from contesting for the presidency, calling it a deliberate attempt to weaken opposition unity in northern Uganda.

“Before we were FDC, we were UPC, both in the parliament and also in our roots. My father was a staunch UPC member. We share the same roots. This decision by EC was meant to cut off the Lango vote from the opposition,” Mafabi told cheering supporters in Dokolo Town on Friday.

He told his supporters that the development should be exploited.

Mafabi held peaceful rallies in Amolatar and Dokolo, addressing crowds in Namasale Town Council, Amolatar Town Council, Dokolo Gardens, Corner Aputi Cell, Awelo Adekni, and Nino Sub-county. (All Photos by Alfred Ochwo)

“If Jimmy Akena were on the ballot, we would have left Lango to UPC. But since they have been blocked, voting FDC is like voting your own,” Mafabi said. “Even our late chairman Malinga was part of the UPC caucus in Parliament. The roots are the same.”

The Electoral Commission announced on 22 September 2025 that UPC would not field a presidential candidate in the forthcoming elections.

EC Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama said the ruling followed High Court Miscellaneous Cause No. 148 of 2025, which found that Akena had exceeded the two-term limit allowed by the UPC constitution. The Commission advised the party to comply with existing court orders before nominating a new flag bearer.

Traditionally a UPC stronghold, the Lango sub-region now appears to be a strategic target for Mafabi’s campaign. With UPC out of the race, FDC hopes to consolidate support from voters who feel politically orphaned.

Mafabi, who is currently traversing the country to rally support ahead of the January 2026 general elections, spent the day campaigning in the Lango sub-region, pledging to fix the economy and ensure that “Ugandans have money in their pockets”.

Mafabi held peaceful rallies in Amolatar and Dokolo, addressing crowds in Namasale Town Council, Amolatar Town Council, Dokolo Gardens, Corner Aputi Cell, Awelo Adekni, and Nino Sub-county.

Voters urged him to prioritise health financing if elected president, saying the region has long suffered neglect in healthcare and infrastructure.

The sub-region continues to grapple with high cases of malaria, neglected tropical diseases, maternal mortality, malnutrition and poor sanitation and yet health facilities remain scarce.

In August 2023, the Ministry of Health recorded 32,594 malaria cases within two months, one of the highest spikes ever reported in Uganda. Village Health Teams (VHTs) documented 1,096 pregnancy-related deaths between March 2023 and March 2024, most of which occurred because women relied on traditional birth attendants due to lack of health facilities.

Mafabi pledged to establish well-equipped health centres in Dokolo and across Uganda, with adequate staff, logistics, and medicines.

“Districts like Dokolo have only one Health Centre III while many communities remain isolated,” Mafabi said. “Even where facilities exist, there are no doctors or drugs. We shall ensure the 15 per cent health financing target recommended by global health organisations.”

He accused the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) of abandoning Lango, citing unfulfilled promises such as cattle compensation, poor roads, failing schools, and the collapsing health sector.

Voices from Dokolo

At the rallies, residents expressed their frustrations and hopes for a better future.
James Ogwang, FDC Chairperson for Dokolo District, decried the state of local health services.

“We have only one Health Centre III, which is overcrowded and without medicine. We need a government that invests seriously in health because our people are dying helplessly.”

Okello Geoffrey, FDC Chairperson for Okole Sub-county, urged Mafabi to restore the cotton industry.

“Many families once survived on cotton growing. We ask him not only to revive it but also to ensure fair prices.”

Moses Odeng, a farmer from Dokolo, raised concerns about infrastructure and healthcare:

“Our roads are terrible, and hospitals lack drugs. We end up in expensive private clinics. We hope Mafabi can fix this if we trust him with our vote.”

With UPC absent from the 2026 ballot, FDC appears poised to fill the vacuum in northern Uganda. Mafabi’s appeal to the region’s political heritage, invoking shared roots between the two opposition parties, could prove crucial in consolidating support in areas historically resistant to NRM dominance.

“Our message is simple: restore dignity, rebuild health, and return money to Ugandans’ pockets. The struggle that UPC began, FDC will complete.”