The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party has announced plans to front a candidate in the Kikuube district LCV chairperson by-election as they criticized the government’s handling of Labour Day celebrations and the proposed Protection of Sovereignty Bill.

The remarks were made by the FDC party President, Eng. Patrick Oboi Amuriat, addressing journalists at the party headquarters in Najjanankumbi, Entebbe Road, on May 4th, 2026.

According to Amuriat, the Electoral Commission had set nominations for May 25th-26th, 2026, and polling for June 10th to fill the vacancy left by the late chairperson Peter Banura.

“The FDC has commenced its internal process of candidate identification for this by-election,” Amuriat said.

The party called on interested members in Kikuube and Bunyoro to express interest, in line with internal procedures, and indicated it was also preparing for forthcoming LC1 elections.

Turning to Labour Day 2026, marked on May 1 in Buikwe, Amuriat said Ugandan workers deserve more than “medals and speeches.”

He described the event as “the usual ritual of meet and greet of the NRM,” detached from workers’ realities.

“Labour Day must not be a day where the government officials celebrate while the worker who woke up at 5am, walked to the factory, and earned a wage that cannot pay rent is expected to cheer,” Amuriat noted.

Amuriat condemned the absence of a realistic minimum wage, exploitation, street vendor evictions, and what he termed a “deal economy” under 40 years of President Museveni’s rule.

On the Protection of Sovereignty Bill, Amuriat welcomed President Museveni’s public statement that the version tabled in Parliament “is not the Bill he initiated.”

He questioned who altered the legislation and urged Parliament to reject it in its current or amended form.

“What has happened with this bill is a demonstration of what Ugandans can achieve when they speak with one voice,” Amuriat said, praising over 90 percent public opposition during committee hearings.

Amuriat called for broader opposition unity on national issues and warned that the bill threatens democratic rights and multi-party politics.

He said FDC would not “take it lying down” and may seek constitutional interpretation if passed.