Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate Nathan Nandala Mafabi and party president Patrick Amuriat Oboi have accused the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government of abandoning Kaliro District, after residents complained of persistent underdevelopment and a lack of essential services.
During a campaign visit, residents said they were struggling to access healthcare, quality education and reliable transport due to deteriorating facilities and a poor road network. They described the area as neglected, saying their leaders had “abandoned” them despite years of political support.
Amuriat Oboi condemned what he called the government’s failure to invest in the region, pointing to the state of local infrastructure.
He said the people of Kaliro were suffering under President Yoweri Museveni’s leadership despite contributing to the national economy.
“I pity the people of Kaliro.You have dusty roads and no development. Museveni has chained the people of Kaliro even when you pay a lot of taxes,”he said.
He urged residents to vote for Nandala Mafabi, arguing that the FDC presidential candidate could “bring about change” and reverse years of stalled progress.
Mafabi dismissed the NRM’s poverty alleviation initiatives, including the Parish Development Model (PDM), saying they had failed to uplift ordinary citizens.
“These programs have only benefited one region,” he said, accusing the ruling government of using the initiatives to entrench political loyalty rather than improve livelihoods.
The FDC candidate promised to revive cooperative and agricultural banks to provide interest-free loans to farmers and service sector workers.
He argued that affordable credit would empower rural communities to expand their businesses and reduce dependence on loan sharks.
Nandala Mafabi also pledged to prioritise employment and public services.
“We will create jobs for the youth,” he said, adding that an FDC government would extend adequate healthcare and education to communities that have long been left behind.
He appealed to voters to support his candidacy, saying he understood their daily struggles.
“I am the only candidate who understands your struggles and is committed to addressing them,” he told residents.