Nandala accuses NRM of fuelling poverty in West Nile

Zombo: Opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate Nathan Nandala Mafabi has accused President Yoweri Museveni and the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) government of deliberately keeping the people of West Nile in poverty to maintain political control.

Speaking to supporters in Paidha Town Council, Zombo District, on Saturday, November 16, 2025, Nandala said poverty, unfair policies, and what he called “a system of greed” have been used to weaken communities.

The rally was part of his final West Nile campaign tour, where he addressed a range of social, political, and economic concerns. He was introduced to supporters by former Obongi County MP Hon. Caps Hassan Fungaroo, the FDC Vice Chairperson for Northern Uganda.

“Your situation is bad because the system has made it deliberate to make you poor. The NRM government has made you beggars yet you were not.”

He accused government of enabling money lenders who charge high interest rates of up to 20 percent, questioning why the lenders come from the same region. The remarks drew loud applause, especially from businesswomen struggling with loans.

Nandala criticized government programs such as Emyooga, Youth Livelihood Program, Parish Development Model (PDM), and Operation Wealth Creation, saying they have failed since the 1990s.

“These programs have no real help for people’s lives,” he said.

He promised to revive old cooperative societies that collapsed under government mismanagement, arguing that this was done to keep farmers poor.
“If elected, I will bring back groups like the Okoro Coffee Growers Cooperative Society in Zombo to improve your lives and stop middlemen from cheating you,” he said.

Nandala also pledged Shs100 million per village annually to support community initiatives—contrasting it with PDM, which he said benefits only a few while some leaders take bribes.

On the matter of education, Nandala accused government of creating division by paying science teachers more than arts teachers, a situation he said hurts government schools and leaves parents suffering during teachers’ industrial actions.

“Give me the mandate, and I will fix this country,” he told the crowd.

He further promised to reduce taxes on loans to help Ugandans—including boda-boda riders—acquire property more affordably.

Nandala also condemned corruption, calling it the biggest drain on Uganda’s economy.

“Uganda has money, but corruption is at the peak, draining the country daily through a selected few,” he said.

He promised Shs60,000 monthly for every citizen aged 60 and above, criticizing the current SAGE program for supporting only a few people above 80.

On healthcare, Nandala pledged to upgrade all Health Centre IVs to hospitals, and elevate regional referral hospitals to national status comparable to Mulago. He also promised to give construction contracts to local engineers to build local capacity.

During the event, market vendors from Paidha Central Market gifted him yams. Nandala responded by promising to establish an agricultural bank that would give affordable loans directly to farmers and low-income earners.

Nandala ended his speech by urging voters to embrace change:

“Someone who has been in power for 40 years and has failed to solve your problems cannot address them in five years.”

His message appears to be resonating with voters in Zombo District, an area that has largely supported the NRM since the 1996 elections. Nandala heads next to his final West Nile campaign stop in Pakwach District.

Do you have an advertisement or article you want to publish? Mail us at theugreports@gmail.com or WhatsApp +256757022363.