Social Democrats of Uganda
Social Democrats of Uganda (SDU) was a Ugandan political party founded in 2003 and officially registered on 1 April 2004. Based in Kampala, it promoted social democracy and democratic socialism, focusing on economic fairness, social justice, and good governance. The SDU aimed to challenge the long-dominant National Resistance Movement (NRM) and to offer policies that reduce inequality, while operating alongside larger opposition groups like the Forum for Democratic Change and the National Unity Platform, though it remained a smaller player.
The party was founded by Nabilah Sempala, who served as its first president before later joining the Forum for Democratic Change. Its creation came as Uganda moved toward a multi-party system following a 2005 referendum that lifted the ban on political parties.
Despite official registration, the SDU struggled to gain broad support due to funding limitations and campaign restrictions. Ahead of the 2021 general elections, it formed a coalition with the Democratic Party to strengthen opposition efforts against the NRM. The 2021 election was difficult, marked by violence and government restrictions on opposition gatherings.
As of 2025, the SDU is not listed among Uganda’s 26 registered political parties by the Electoral Commission, but it plans to field candidates in the 2026 general elections.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 02:59 (CET).