Story by Obed Kankiriho
The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Chairperson for Rukiga District, Michael Kwarikunda, has officially resigned from the party and declared his intention to run as an independent candidate for the Rukiga District Chairperson seat in the upcoming elections.
Kwarikunda, who has led the FDC in Rukiga for the past four years, made the announcement on Tuesday morning during a press briefing held at Tuuza Residence Lounge in Kabale Municipality.
Citing deep-rooted internal conflicts within the party, Kwarikunda said his decision to leave FDC was necessary to allow him to focus on delivering results-oriented leadership free from political wrangles.
Kwarikunda previously contested for the same position in the 2021 general elections under the FDC ticket, narrowly losing to incumbent Robert Kakwerere Mbabazi.
In his renewed campaign, Kwarikunda pledged to prioritize transparency, accountability, and service delivery across key sectors such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
He criticized the current district leadership for failing to support local youth initiatives, referencing the 2023/2024 National Kids Athletics Tournament held in Soroti District.
According to Kwarikunda, students from Rukiga missed the competition due to lack of funding, and no accountability has been provided for the funds allocated to the event.
His departure marks another significant defection from the FDC amid growing concerns over internal divisions within Uganda’s opposition ranks.
