The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), led by President Patrick Amuriat and Secretary General Nandala Mafabi, has officially rejoined the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD) in a desperate bid to rescue the party from financial collapse.
The move comes after Parliament passed the Political Parties and Organisations (Amendment) Act, 2025, which restricts government funding to only those political parties that are members of IPOD. The legislation mandates that parties must commit to democratic principles and be active members of IPOD to qualify for state funding.
The FDC had withdrawn from IPOD in 2018, citing disagreements over the forum’s effectiveness. However, facing severe financial strain, the party’s leadership made a dramatic U-turn, signing a new memorandum of understanding with IPOD yesterday, August 12, 2025.
During the signing ceremony, Nandala Mafabi did not mince words as he condemned former FDC president Dr Kizza Besigye for the party’s current predicament.
“All this is the fault of Kizza Besigye. He misled us into leaving IPOD because of his own ulterior motives. Now, the party is on the verge of collapse because of such mistakes,” Mafabi stated.
Besigye, a long-time opposition figure, had been a vocal critic of IPOD, arguing that it was being used by the government to control opposition parties. His stance led the FDC to exit the dialogue platform, a decision that has now backfired as the party struggles to stay afloat.
The FDC’s financial crisis has been aggravated by recent internal divisions, including the breakaway of the new Peoples’ Front for Freedom (PFF). Party president Patrick Amuriat pointed fingers at Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, accusing him of sowing discord within the FDC.
“We recruited Lukwago, not knowing we were bringing a snake into our party. After contributing to the collapse of the Democratic Party (DP), he came into FDC and did the same thing,” Amuriat lamented.
Lukwago, who joined the FDC after years of association with DP, has been accused of fuelling factionalism, leading to the formation of the splinter PFF group. The departure of PFF members has left the FDC financially drained, with reports indicating that the party could barely sustain its operations.
With the new law in place, rejoining IPOD appears to be the FDC’s last hope for survival. Government funding is now critical for the party’s operations, including mobilisation, campaigns, and administrative expenses.
Political analysts suggest that the FDC’s return to IPOD signals a strategic retreat, acknowledging the harsh reality that without state funding, opposition parties face an uphill battle to remain relevant.
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