Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate Nathan Nandala Mafabi made an emotional return to his home district of Sironko on Sunday, not as a parliamentary candidate, but as a presidential hopeful seeking one final gift from his constituency: a block vote for the presidency.
The homecoming was marked by a hero’s welcome from supporters who lined roads from Bugusege to Buyobo, Buweli, Budadiri, and into Sironko Town.
Party youths escorted him on foot for several kilometres in a symbolic show of loyalty, chanting, dancing, and waving the FDC ‘V’ sign.
“We accompany our son as he climbs to the national stage,” said one youth leader.
Addressing the crowd, Nandala thanked residents for nurturing him and supporting his political career since 1996.
“Thank you my people for the warm welcome. You supported me, and I never disappointed you. Now I want to be president and serve the entire country,” he said.
He urged Sironko to consolidate its support into a block vote, emphasizing that the gesture would symbolize the ultimate gratitude for decades of service.
The day concluded with a massive rally in Sironko Town, marking both his farewell as an MP and his first major homecoming as a national presidential contender.
Local analyst Abas Wetaka praised Nandala’s track record, saying, “As chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee, he put the untouchable to account for resources. Nandala Mafabi has demonstrated that he can perform when you give him public office.”
Mafabi also defended his stewardship of the Bugisu Cooperative Union (BCU), dismissing allegations of corruption.
He highlighted achievements including recovering 3,300 acres in Bulambuli, establishing a radio station, and managing debts without selling union land.
He credited his leadership for helping coffee farmers, noting that prices had risen from 2,500 to 18,000 shillings per kilo during his tenure, although experts point out that global market trends and climate effects largely determine coffee prices.
During his campaign in the region earlier this month, incumbent President Yoweri Museveni claimed government intervention had helped BCU settle foreign debts, remarks that Mafabi used to clarify his own record.
The Sironko visit underscores Nandala Mafabi’s strategy of leveraging his parliamentary stronghold as a platform for national ambitions, with supporters and analysts watching closely as he transitions from local to national politics.