Forum for Democratic Change presidential candidate Nathan Nandala Mafabi has renewed his call for a transformative economic programme, telling traders in Kitintale Market, Luzira Market, and the Port Bell–Kirombe area that Uganda can no longer afford an economic structure that leaves ordinary citizens struggling under rising costs and high taxation.
Addressing crowds that gathered around his campaign trail, Mafabi criticised what he called an economic system that privileges foreign investors while suffocating local enterprise.
He said traders and small business owners face barriers that make it difficult to expand, including limited access to affordable capital, unpredictable tax regimes, and rising prices of basic commodities and services.
“We have the raw materials and a hardworking population,” he said. “What is missing is leadership that believes in Ugandan talent, supports local businesses, and invests in industries that create lasting jobs.”
A central component of his message is the pledge to set up at least one factory in every sub-region—an industrialisation drive he believes will create thousands of jobs, boost local production, and add value to raw materials that currently leave the country with minimal processing.
Mafabi argues that decentralised industrial growth would allow regions to build wealth from their own resources rather than waiting for investment decisions made in Kampala.
He also highlighted social sectors he considers neglected, promising that an FDC-led government would deliver more affordable education, accessible healthcare, and targeted social welfare programmes.
Mafabi cited the struggles of families who cannot pay school fees or medical bills, linking these challenges to weak fiscal discipline, misallocated funds, and persistent corruption.
To ease the burden on businesses, he pledged to reduce taxes and improve the operating environment for small and medium-sized enterprises, which he described as central to job creation and national development.
By positioning himself as a champion of economic empowerment and better social services, Mafabi seeks to distinguish his platform from that of the ruling NRM government.
His campaign continues to emphasise anti-corruption measures, promising to seal financial leakages and redirect public resources toward national development priorities.