FDC admits its house is on fire
Mr Wasswa Birigwa
KAMPALA- The Opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has admitted that internal fights are tearing the party apart.
The party chairperson, Mr Wasswa Birigwa, in a telephone interview yesterday, agreed with deputy secretary general, Mr Harold Kaija that the fights in the party have been caused by both internal and external forces beyond their own control. He said there is an invisible hand, which is masterminding the ongoing fights and divisions at the party headquarters in Najjanankumbi.
“Some people have failed to let off what they called unfair. They have failed to concede to what they lost last year and that is the genesis of all these fights. Some of the fights started way back before I even became party chair but I know there is an invisible external hand that benefits out of this,” Mr Birigwa said.
He added: “After the delegates’ conference last year, some people said the party was going to fall, we are still here standing. What is happening now is reconcilable.”
While addressing their weekly press conference at the party head offices yesterday, Mr Kaija said the former party president, Maj Gen Mugisha Muntu, has continued to widen the divisions in FDC and he could face disciplinary action.
“(Gen) Muntu has to answer for going against party rules and regulations. This is too bad for the biggest (Opposition) party in the country. But we shall handle this because it is just a friendly-fire as the soldiers say when they fire at each other,” he said. The crack in the house of FDC became visible after Mr Patrick Oboi Amuriat was voted party president to replace Gen Muntu during the delegates’ conference at Namboole last year.
Failing to accept the official results announced by Mr Dan Mugarura, then FDC electoral commission chairperson, Gen Muntu together with his campaign team resolved to have countrywide consultations to make a final decision about their next step. This has seen most of the members who were on Gen Muntu’s campaign trail evade party meetings and gatherings.
Some of the members mentioned include former Serere Woman MP Alice Alaso, former Leader of Opposition Winnie Kiiza, Kibweri MP Francis Gonahasa, and Bugweri MP Abdu Katuntu.
Alaso wants belief changed
In an earlier interview, Ms Alaso said, “I do not subscribe to the defiance slogan that is why I will not go to FDC until the belief is changed. We should go for structural development. We have been in defiance and it has achieved very little, why should we continue believing in it?”
Last week, Gen Muntu spent most of his time in Arua campaigning for independent candidate, Mr Kassiano Wadri, as opposed to the official FDC candidate Bruce Musema.
“This is indiscipline. Mr Muntu knows that when a flag bearer loses an election, they remain with the flag until the end of the term. Mr Musema has FDC’s flag. Why would a former president of the party campaign for another candidate? Let us wait and see what the disciplinary committee tells him,” Mr Kaija said.
When asked on what informed his decision to rally behind an independent candidate, Gen Muntu said he will not comment about any of the allegations but will wait for an official communication from the party president or secretary general.
“Is this the first time an independent candidate is being campaigned for? I will wait for an official letter from the leadership at the headquarters and then I will have comments for you sir. We are just seeing these things differently,” Mr Muntu said.
However, he also said he has finalised his countrywide consultations and he will meet Mr Amuriat and former FDC presidential aspirant, Dr Kizza Besigye, before the end of this month to talk about his final decisions.
“I met Mr Amuriat during the Njeru by-election and told him that we shall meet towards the end of this month. I also called Dr Besigye and told him the same,” he said.
