In Oyam, FDC’s Mafabi promises free sanitary towels, school meals
On the third day of his campaign in the region, Mafabi held rallies in Kamdini town, Wojjma trading centre, and Iceme town in Oyam, which has a population of nearly 480,000.
Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate James Nathan Nandala Mafabi addressing supporters in Oyam on the campaign trail. (Credit: Alfred Ochwo)
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Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate James Nathan Nandala Mafabi continued his tour of the Acholi sub-region, promising to offer hope to the residents of Oyam district.
On the third day of his campaign in the region, Mafabi held rallies in Kamdini town, Wojjma trading centre, and Iceme town in Oyam, which has a population of nearly 480,000.
The district is also known for its deep-rooted ties to the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC).
Residents nonetheless turned out in large numbers to listen to Mafabi, who pledged a people-centred government focused on social welfare, education, and infrastructure.
“I am here to unite and work with all leaders who care about the people, including UPC President Jimmy Akena, who was deliberately not nominated because they never wanted you to support him,” he said, drawing cheers from supporters.
“FDC has gotten stronger roots from the UPC as our founders." 
Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate James Nathan Nandala Mafabi. (Credit: Alfred ochwo)
In Oyam, where schools struggle with low performance and high dropout rates, the FDC frontrunner promised to prioritise education as a national equaliser. He pledged to provide free sanitary towels to schoolgirls and a daily meal for every schoolchild as part of his strategy to keep learners in class.
“No child should miss school because of hunger or lack of sanitary pads. Education is the strongest foundation for transforming the Acholi sub-region and the whole country," he said.
The pledge appeared to resonate with the parents and guardians present at the rallies, who said they had witnessed the toll of poverty on their children’s education.
'We feel forgotten'
The residents were also keen to highlight the challenges that have crippled their livelihoods.
Denis Okol, the FDC Iceme village chairman in Oyam, implored the presidential candidate to prioritise road construction if elected to the highest office on the land.
“Our district is so big, but we lack good roads. We also don’t have enough health facilities, like a health centre IV. People travel long distances to get medical services, and sometimes mothers die on the way.”
Emmanuel Odyek, a 56-year-old farmer from Iceme, said that while Oyam is rich in agricultural potential, farmers remain trapped in poverty due to poor market access and low prices.
“We grow sunflower and soya as our main cash crops, but there is no market. We end up selling to middlemen at a loss. Even our health centre in Iceme has no drugs most of the time. We feel forgotten," he said.
Mafabi assured Oyam residents that his government would create local agro-processing industries to boost farmers’ incomes and reduce post-harvest losses. He also promised to work closely with local co-operatives to ensure fair prices for agricultural produce.
On his 34th day on the campaign trail, the first-time presidential candidate would then head to Omoro district on his quest to unseat President Yoweri Museveni of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), who campaigned in this region in October, as he himself seeks re-election.