FDC's Mafabi says two ferries at every landing site under his govt

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Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate James Nathan Nandala Mafabi and his campaign team faced an unusual delay on Friday morning en route to a campaign rally in Katakwi district in Teso sub-region.

The team had to use a ferry (MV Bisina) from Bisina landing site in Kumi district to reach Okokorio landing site in Katakwi, but the heavy traffic forced the convoy to split into two groups.

While the first group crossed early, the second convoy carrying Mafabi and senior FDC leaders reached at 11:30am. 

New Vision contacted Allan Ssempebwa, who leads media and communications at the Ministry of Works and Transport, for comment on the reported ferry delay.

He said government has so far established 13 vessels across the country and that these work every day from 8am to 7pm at no cost to passengers.

“We have set up vessels at all landing sites and we have more four coming up to solve the problem at Lake Kyoga because it’s a danger for many. Having many like Nandala wants is our target too, but it's going to be in a phased setup," said Ssempebwa.

"Our vessels operate on timely routes, so it would have been a problem if it delayed, but it was on time but just not big enough to accommodate all [passengers], which is what we are solving."

He said that unless a vessel encounters an issue, say mechanical, which Ssempebwa says would be communicated in time, a ferry always keeps time.

Meanwhile, upon landing at Okokorio, the FDC presidential frontrunner held a mini rally before proceeding to Toroma town council, where the main rally took place.

Among his campaign pledges, Mafabi cited his experience to promise to improve water transport by putting up two ferries at each landing site so that Ugandans do not need to wait for one ferry to go and then return.

“We had to split into groups, but also to wait for the ferry to come back. Imagine if one had perishable goods. My government will buy two ferries or more at every landing site to fasten movement across the waters.

“A ferry is a road on water. As one goes, another should be coming. A ferry is not expensive — one cannot cost more than 340 million shillings. We shall build more ferries to ease movement and trade."

'I am your own'

Mafabi, a first-time presidential candidate, had by Friday (November 7) campaigned in 68 districts in 40 days.

He was accompanied by his wife Flora Nandala, a daughter of the Teso sub-region, and FDC president and former presidential candidate Patrick Oboi Amuriat, who is also from Teso.

The two introduced the FDC flagbearer to the crowd as a son-in-law of Teso, urging the people to vote for him as one of their own.

Flora praised her husband’s vision for Uganda and for Teso in particular, saying his leadership would prioritise issues that have long affected the sub-region, such as cattle compensation, better education, and improved infrastructure.

“My husband has developed other nations. He will develop Uganda as well. Teso region had cotton, it was taken away from us but his manifesto will restore its growth," she said.

In his address, Mafabi thanked Teso for giving him a wife who has stood by him for three decades. “I want to thank you so much for giving me a very beautiful woman. We have been together for 32 years now. So, I am your own."

Then, turning the matters at hand, he criticized what he described as government neglect of Teso and northern Uganda.  

“How can someone say they will compensate you with just five cows? What about those who lost their people? There is a court ruling that the people of Teso, Lango and Acholi who lost cattle must be compensated. We (FDC) shall honour that ruling.”

Mafabi urged voters not to trust leaders who, in his words, do not love them. He singled out Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among, accusing her of protecting personal privileges instead of advocating for the ordinary people. “Anita Among speaks whatever she likes because she is protecting what she has just gained as Speaker of Parliament." 

He was particularly responding to Among's comments at an NRM campaign rally, where she claimed that Mafabi had told Ugandans to either vote for him or President Yoweri Museveni.

He promised to equalise teachers’ salaries, saying both Arts and Science teachers would receive the same pay and improved housing. He also vowed that teachers’ children would study for free from primary school to university.

"We shall pay them [teachers] equally and treat them with dignity."

Mafabi further promised to equip all health facilities, ensuring that each district has a government-owned ambulance rather than relying on Members of Parliament. Under his plan, referral hospitals would be elevated to national hospitals, while health centre IVs would become district hospitals.

Mafabi was scheduled to campaign in Soroti on Saturday.