FDC Rolls Out Five-Pillar Manifesto – “Money in Our Pockets

Kampala, Uganda — The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has officially launched its campaign manifesto for the 2026-2031 period, laying out a comprehensive plan under the slogan “Fixing the Country: Money in Our Pockets.” The document, adopted at the party’s 19th National Council meeting in Najjanankumbi, promises sweeping reforms across sectors with an emphasis on reducing household hardship, improving service delivery, and curbing government excess.

Key Pillars & Proposals

FDC’s manifesto is structured around five core pillars: economic transformation, strategic investment, human capital development, governance improvement, and protection of special interest groups.

Here are some major proposed measures:

Agriculture: Increase allocation to agriculture to 10% of the national budget, modernize farming (credit, irrigation, extension services), establish region-specific industrial/agricultural zones, revive cooperative unions, and establish farmer service centres.

Jobs & Industry: Create at least 5 million new jobs over the next five years; boost youth and women-owned enterprises; facilitate access to affordable, long-term credit through specialised windows.

Health & Education: Raise health spending (targeting upgrading of regional/district hospitals, enhancing health education, improving screening/prevention); reduce overcrowding in schools; teacher recruitment and training; review of competence-based curriculum.

Infrastructure & Energy: Expand paved road network; reduce construction costs; review power purchase agreements to lower electricity tariffs; enhance water transport and upgrade smaller aerodromes to international standard; use lakes and rivers more for transportation.

Governance & Fiscal Discipline: Fight corruption; cut wasteful government expenditure; ensure transparency in public finances; accountability of security forces; restoring public trust.

Challenges & Critiques

Debt Levels & Fiscal Sustainability: FDC argues that Uganda’s public debt has risen excessively and that current borrowing is unsustainable. Manifesto signals more prudent fiscal policy is needed.

Implementation Risk: Many proposals (such as raising budget allocations, major infrastructure upgrades, and generating millions of jobs) will require large resources, disciplined governance, and strong institutions. Critics may question whether the current system can deliver.

Overlap & Slogans: There is already some contention with other parties over slogans. FDC’s “Money in the Pockets” is claimed by the NEED party too, which may lead to messaging confusion or disputes.

What FDC Promises Beyond Words

Reviving sectors (agriculture, fisheries, blue economy) to boost exports and reduce food inflation.

Significant investment in transport infrastructure, including water transport and aviation upgrades.

Social services: better healthcare access, more teachers, less crowded classes, stronger public health education.

Why It Matters

With rising cost of living, high youth unemployment, complaints about poor services, and growing public debt, the timing of FDC’s manifesto is targeted to strike at core concerns of Ugandans. How credible their promises will be will depend on how clearly they cost them, how realistic their timelines are, and how much trust they can build among voters. FDC is positioning itself as offering an alternative economic trajectory to the incumbent administration.