FDC's Amuriat plots return to Parliament in Kanyum County

________________

Patrick Oboi Amuriat, president of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), has announced his return to parliamentary politics in Kanyum County, Kumi district, ahead of the 2026 general elections.

Amuriat, who previously represented Kumi County for 15 years, is seeking to reclaim a seat he once helped create but narrowly lost in the 2016 election. He also ran for the presidency in the 2021 general elections on the FDC ticket, where he secured 3.26% of the vote.

His attempt to secure the FDC flag for the 2026 presidential race ended before nomination, when he stepped aside in favour of the party’s secretary general, Nathan Nandala Mafabi. Mafabi is now expected to challenge incumbent President Yoweri Museveni, who has already been endorsed unopposed by his party, the National Resistance Movement.

“I’m returning to contest as Kanyum County MP in Kumi district,” Amuriat told New Vision in an interview.

Amuriat’s parliamentary career began in Kumi County, where he served for 15 years before the creation of Kumi Municipality and Kanyum constituencies. Despite spearheading the establishment of Kanyum, he was defeated in 2016 by then Kumi LC5 chairperson, Ismael Orot.

After leaving Parliament, Amuriat rose to national prominence in 2017 when he defeated Mugisha Muntu to become FDC president.

For several years, he was one of the country’s most visible opposition leaders, a position he held until 2021 when the National Unity Platform (NUP) overtook FDC as the main opposition party in Parliament.

“It's not true that I have ceased being the party president of FDC. I’m still the party president until 2028 when my second term expires; however, as I continue to serve as party president, my people have called me to return to lead them in parliament as their area MP,” Amuriat said.

He dismissed criticism that his desire to return to Parliament is driven by personal ambition, insisting that it reflects the will of his constituents.

“Returning to contest as an MP is not lowering myself, and I shouldn’t be faulted for it because I’m not the first,” Amuriat said.

He pointed to other leaders who pursued higher office and later returned to Parliament, citing examples such as Gen. (rtd) Henry Tumukunde, Norbert Mao and Jimmy Akena.

“Even when the work of the party was highly demanding, I kept in touch with my people. I have been able to witness a big gap in representation, and that is what has made my people recall me to serve them,” Amuriat explained.

Amuriat said his campaign would focus on advocating for government compensation of the Iteso, improvements in education, and economic empowerment.

Kanyum County is currently represented by Simon Opolot of the NRM, who retained the party flag in recent primaries. He will now face Amuriat, a veteran politician, in what is expected to be a closely watched contest.