FDC’s Patrick Oboi Amuriat finally nominated to challenge Museveni in 2021 presidential election

Uganda’s Electoral Commission (EC) has duly nominated Patrick Oboi Amuriat (POA), the flag bearer of main opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), as a presidential candidate for the 2021 election.

Amuriat’s journey to the Kyambogo nomination centre was dramatic.

Police picked Amuriat from FDC headquarters at Najjanankumbi and bundled him into a vehicle. The officers drove the defiant opposition politician to Kyambogo nomination centre.

Amuriat arrived barefooted.

“This is extremely annoying, that I would be harassed this way, a regime choosing to harass a potential candidate,” Amuriat after police dumped him at Kyambogo.

“I have been forced to come here without papers, without a seconder. This is unbecoming. But I feel very strong about this because this is happening to me because of the people I have stood for for a long time.”

November 03 is the second and final day of nominations.

On November 02, the Electoral Commission (EC) nominated three bush war era generals for the country’s top seat.

They were Yoweri Tibuhaburwa Kaguta Museveni of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), Maj Gen (Rtd) Gregg Mugisha Muntu of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) and former security minister Lt Gen (Rtd) Henry Kakurugu Tumukunde.

Two other aspirants Nancy Kalembe and John Katumba missed on nomination because of failure to clear the Shs20m fee.

On November 03, the EC nominated Robert Kyagulanyi and Willy Mayambala as presidential candidates.

At 12:42pm EC chairperson Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama declared Amuriat duly nominated.

He now becomes the sixth candidate to successfully undergo the nomination exercise.

He is seeking to fit in the shoes of opposition strongman Dr Kizza Besigye who won’t be standing for the first time in presidential polls held since 2001.

Amuriat has Besigye’s blessing.