FDC unveil Leadership Academy to equip youths with party ideologies

IGANGA, UGANDA: The Opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) on Tuesday launched their leadership academy where they trained party trainers from the Busoga sub-region who will spread their ideological message to different corners of the region.

The youths were selected from Iganga, Kamuli, Bugweri, Jinja, Jinja City, Namutumba, Bugiri, Mayuge, Namayingo, Luuka, Buyende, and Kaliro districts.

The event that took place at Sana country hotel at Buseyi village, Nakalama sub-county in Iganga district included passing out of Trainers of trainees who were tasked to carry on training in various districts within the sub-region.

The training was graced by Hon. Isabirye David Aga, the Member of Parliament for Jinja City North division as the Guest of honour, who said they are training youths leadership in FDC about the ideologies and values of the party and as well get ready for the party structural elections and fourth coming elections of 2026 with the aim of taking power from NRM government.

“You know very well that FDC was one of the strongest opposition parties here in Uganda and we not only want to reclaim that but also take over power from the NRM government. This is why we are imparting strategies into our youth leaders because youths constitute about 70% of Uganda and by empowering youths, you are empowering the whole society,” Hon Isabirye said.

He also said they ought to go back to their defiance factor and exert pressure in case they cite electoral malpractices, warning police against interfering with their gatherings something he says is unconstitutional especially when they are carrying out party activities where they should be protected by the constitution.

“This time round if they cheat or steal our victory, we shall put up pressure and resort to the defiance factor to reclaim our victory. If we don’t defy, if we don’t fight, police will continue disorganizing our gatherings and rallies once we coil because many are coiling. They need to quote any law which makes it unconstitutional for FDC to hold gatherings,” Hon Isabirye added before emphasizing the importance of leading by example and remaining steadfast in pursuing truth in all circumstances.

The former contestant in the Bugiri municipality MP race, Ms Eunice Namatende says they are looking at many things especially the party core values where leaders must know that seeking knowledge is key and it is why they have launched the FDC Leadership Academy to avoid producing half-baked leaders in future.

“We realized that most of our leaders lack skills and we decided to launch this leadership academy where we would talk to them on how to handle themselves and unveil some skills to them. We need to tell them that FDC is an institution and not one’s home like others think, that it has been built on an individual,” Ms Namatende said before emphasizing activism as one of the tools to push FDC ahead.

The FDC secretary of publicity and mobilization in Bugweri district, who doubles as Ibulanku sub-county chairperson Mr Ndhoga Ibrahim says they desire activism where they wish to convince and sensitize people on the leakages of the current government ahead of 2026 general elections where they are aiming at the top political seat in the country.

“We want to tell our people and party members that the time is now to wake up and see the inequities in NRM government. As FDC, we have decided to follow constitutional means of taking power by training people across the country about the party ideologies and values, and we shall not initiate a bush war like the current government did in the 1980s,” Mr Ndhoga said.

Meanwhile, DailyExpress has learnt that the FDC Leadership Academy will be extended to other regions like Buganda, Western Uganda and other parts of the country as part of the party commitment to ensure that leaders from various regions in Uganda receive the necessary training and guidance to become effective agents of change in their respective areas.