Africa-Press – Uganda. Two prominent female political figures from Karamoja have defected to the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), in what party leaders described as a symbolic break from the ruling establishment and mainstream opposition.
Zainab, a former parliamentary aspirant under the National Unity Platform (NUP), and Kiyayi Hellen, an elected Woman District Councillor for Moroto who has been serving under the National Resistance Movement (NRM), officially joined FDC during the party’s regional assembly in Moroto on June 7, 2025.
Their defection was greeted with cheers and ululations from supporters gathered at the assembly.
The move is being interpreted as a pointed protest against both the ruling NRM and the opposition NUP, which Zainab accused of losing touch with grassroots realities.
“We joined the struggle for change, not to be spectators. FDC is the only party showing real commitment to the people of Karamoja,” she said.
Kiyayi, who has long served in local government, said she could no longer reconcile her position with the suffering of her constituents.
“I have seen first-hand how Karamoja is neglected. We cannot continue to serve a system that does not serve us,” she said.
FDC President Patrick Amuriat Oboi welcomed the two leaders, praising their decision as evidence of a growing political awakening in a region historically seen as a stronghold of the ruling party.
“These defections are symbolic,” Amuriat said. “They show that women, youth, and community leaders are ready to abandon the status quo and fight for true representation.”
The FDC regional assembly brought together hundreds of supporters and local leaders in a mobilisation effort aimed at strengthening the party’s foothold in Karamoja, where persistent underdevelopment and insecurity have long fuelled public frustration.
Political analysts say the defections could spark a ripple effect, particularly among young leaders and women who feel alienated from both government and opposition power structures.
With national elections approaching, the FDC appears to be positioning itself as a viable alternative for a region increasingly disillusioned with its traditional political patrons.
Whether this momentum will translate into lasting support at the polls remains to be seen, but Saturday’s gathering left little doubt that the political winds in Karamoja may be starting to shift.
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