Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate Nathan Nandala Mafabi has pledged to overhaul Uganda’s healthcare system and end medical tourism if elected in 2026.
Speaking after his nomination by the Electoral Commission on Wednesday, Mafabi criticized the government for allowing top officials and the well-connected to seek treatment abroad while ordinary Ugandans are left in struggling hospitals.
“We don’t want medical tourism where people go to South Africa, India, Dubai, America, or the UK for treatment,” Mafabi said.
“My grandmother in Zombo, my mother in Kabale, my father in Busia, who cannot catch the eye of a president, should be able to get treatment anywhere in Uganda without seeking favors.”
He pledged to equip hospitals nationwide with facilities and expertise comparable to those abroad, ensuring that all Ugandans access quality healthcare.
Mafabi also urged all political parties, including the ruling NRM, to support his vision, saying his leadership would focus on unity.
“We are going to build bridges where there are none and repair those that are broken,” he said.
The FDC candidate announced his first rally will be held on Kampala Road, a symbolic choice meant to highlight the daily struggles faced by ordinary citizens.