The Katonga Road faction of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), led by prominent opposition figures such as Dr. Kizza Besigye, Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, and Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, is taking steps to establish a new political party.
This move follows an ongoing rift with the party leadership at the FDC headquarters in Najjanankumbi, with tensions escalating to discussions of potentially dissolving the FDC altogether.
Today, the faction is expected to visit the Electoral Commission (EC) to submit an application to reserve a name, symbol, and colors for the new party.
This action represents the first official step towards registering the new political entity.
The group had initially planned to depart their Katonga base for the EC at 9 AM, but delays have occurred as they finalize the necessary documentation.
Sources within the Electoral Commission indicate that the Katonga faction did not make a formal appointment for their visit.
Instead, they are expected to submit their documents at the EC's registry office, where all submissions are processed.
The commission will then review the documents to check the availability of the proposed party name and ensure that the selected colors do not conflict with those of existing political parties.
This move comes after the Katonga faction held a delegates' conference last week, during which they resolved to form a new party due to irreconcilable differences with the Najjanankumbi leadership.
The conflict within the FDC has intensified amid allegations that party president Patrick Amuriat and secretary general Nandala Mafabi are being funded by President Museveni and the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) to undermine the opposition, particularly the FDC.
With the 2026 general elections approaching, the Katonga group is racing against time to complete the registration process, which could take at least six months under ideal circumstances.
However, any disputes over the party’s name, symbol, or other characteristics could further delay this timeline.
As this situation continues to develop, the impact on Uganda's political landscape, especially within the opposition, will be closely watched.