FDC’s Nandala Mafabi pledges to re-energise cooperatives if elected president

MASINDI, October 10, 2025 — Nathan Nandala Mafabi, the presidential flagbearer of the Forum for Democratic Change [FDC], has pledged to re-energise cooperative societies and unions across Uganda, stating that this is vital for empowering farmers and enhancing their bargaining power.

Addressing supporters at a campaign rally in Masindi Town on Thursday, Nandala cited the success of Bugisu Cooperative Union [BCU], which he claims has grown into a strong institution, as an example of how cooperatives can enable farmers to set competitive prices for their produce, particularly coffee.

“If elected President of Uganda, reviving cooperatives will be one of my top priorities,” Nandala, also Chairman of BCU, declared. “These organisations are essential to supporting local farmers. In Masindi, we had a strong cooperative called the Bunyoro Growers’ Cooperative Union, but it was dismantled.”

He blamed past government policies for the decline of producer cooperatives across the country. “They were deliberately destroyed by this government, which has shown no interest in reviving them,” he added.

The Bunyoro Growers’ Cooperative Union, formed and registered in 1954, comprises 130 primary cooperative societies. It was originally established to provide marketing services for crops such as coffee and cotton, which farmers struggled to sell independently. Over time, the union expanded its services to include credit facilities, training, transportation of produce, agricultural inputs, and extension advisory services.

However, the union’s operations were severely disrupted during the 1980s liberation war, during which key assets, including tractors, lorries, a cotton ginnery, and livestock, were destroyed.

Nandala outlined a broader vision for Uganda that includes reviving cooperatives alongside significant investments in education, healthcare, and household economic empowerment.

He promised improved road infrastructure to enhance access to markets for rural farmers. Additionally, he proposed tax exemptions for small and medium enterprises [SMEs], arguing that excessive taxation stifles growth.

“Many entrepreneurs are suffocating under high-interest rates from moneylenders,” Nandala said. “We must ensure accessible capital so they can grow their businesses.”

He also pledged to create employment opportunities to boost economic self-reliance among Ugandans. “During my tenure, I will create diverse job opportunities so that people can work and thrive,” he stated.

On education, Nandala criticised the disparities in teachers’ salaries and called for equal pay across subjects. “How can a teacher of English be paid less than one teaching mathematics when both provide the same service within the same economy?” he questioned.

Former FDC presidential candidate Patrick Oboi Amuriat endorsed Nandala, describing him as the best candidate to lead Uganda, citing his strong background in economics. He urged voters to support all FDC candidates to enable more effective service delivery from the grassroots level.

With general elections scheduled for January 2026, Nandala’s message is resonating with voters seeking change and a more equitable future.

“We have a lot of money in Uganda, but it is being lost to corruption. Uganda loses Shs 10 trillion to corruption every year, and there is no hope of this changing under the current regime,” he said. “I am the only hope for turning this around.”

Nandala is contesting against the incumbent Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of the ruling National Resistance Movement [NRM], Robert Kyagulanyi of the National Unity Platform [NUP], Gregory Mugisha Muntu of the Alliance for National Transformation [ANT], and four other presidential candidates.

https://thecooperator.news/2026-presidential-race-ec-nominates-fdcs-nathan-nandala-mafabi/

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