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I will be nominated for FDC presidency on Thursday, says Amuriat
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FDC president Patrick O Amuriat is seen during a press conference to address an on-going crisis in the party at the FDC headquarters in Najjanankumbi on July 19, 2023. PHOTO/MICHAEL KAKUMIRIZI
What you need to know:
- Meanwhile, the Katonga faction has warned that chances for dialogue are fast fading for the Amuriat-led Najjanankumbi unit occupying the FDC headquarters.
Patrick Amuriat Wednesday morning announced that he will be nominated for reelection as Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) president, deepening uncertainty in the crisis-wracked opposition party.
“I'm going to be nominated as president on Thursday,” Amuriat said.
Geared for his faction’s embrace, Amuriat called on the rival Katonga outfit to democratically challenge his leadership which has turned stormy even as he urges a fresh 5-year-term.
"You don’t try to stage a coup against leaders. What they should be doing is coming to Najjanankumbi tomorrow and see how to throw us out through an election,” he remarked ahead of a controversial vote planned for next month.
He added: “For now, we are the FDC leadership until October 6. That National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting and election will happen come rain or shine.”
On Wednesday, Amuriat reiterated his willingness to lead charges against leftists and founding party president Dr Kizza Besigye.
“We will take him on based on what he does. Maybe this is the time for us to part ways but as the leadership in Najjanankumbi, our wish is to unite,” said the FDC leader since 2017.
Reacting to his remarks, Katonga faction’s interim treasurer general Francis Mwijukye reproached Amuriat for failing to solve problems in the party founded over two decades ago.
“I'm disappointed that the person I campaigned for has ended up this way. His ways are not different from the ones of President Museveni who we are fighting to remove from power,” he told NTV Uganda on Wednesday.
Mwijukye warned that chances for dialogue were fast fading for the Amuriat-led Najjanankumbi unit.
“We will get to Najjanankumbi and ask the impostors to go away. Sooner than later, we’re going to liberate FDC. We’re going to force police to show their colors and then proceed to liberate Uganda,” he added.
“My former president Amuriat should realize that times have changed. For Amuriat to say that he loves FDC more than the founding members and Besigye means that…that means Amuriat just wants to eat FDC,” Mwijukye observed.
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FDC Party spokesperson Ssemujju Nganda (left) and Mr Francis Mwijukye (Buhweju County MP), address the media during the National Consultative Meeting in Kampala on July 17, 2023.PHOTO/ ISAAC KASAMANI
Meanwhile, Mwijukye has also dismissed embattled FDC secretary general Nathan Nandala Mafabi’s self-proclaimed bid for presidency in 2026.
“Before we sought out the confusing elements in FDC and opposition, let’s not even talk about someone saying they will contest for presidency (at national level) in 2026,” said Mwijukye who is also a lawmaker.
On Tuesday, delegates citing the party constitution defied a court order to attend a conference called by the FDC national chairman Wasswa Birigwa.
The meeting in Kampala adopted several resolutions, including the suspension of Amuriat's leadership-and naming Kampala Mayor Erias Lukwago to lead the party on interim basis.
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People, including FDC delegates run after police fired teargas at Katonga Road in Kampala as party members sought to meet in for a conference. PHOTO/ABUBAKER LUBOWA
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Policemen arrest a man in Kampala as a faction of the FDC party convened an extra-ordinary delegates conference at Katonga Road on September 19, 2023. PHOTO/ISAAC KASAMANI
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Policemen clash with unidentified men who stormed an area next to the venue of a planned FDC national delegates meeting which was to be held in Busabala on September 19, 2023. PHOTO/ISAAC KASAMANI
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Spokesman of the opposition FDC party Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda addresses journalists at Katonga Road in Kampala on September 19, 2023. PHOTO/ABUBAKER LUBOWA
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Anti-riot police rest as others prepare to charge at several people who gathered ahead of the FDC party extra-ordinary conference at Katonga Road in Kampala on September 19, 2023. PHOTO/ABUBAKER LUBOWAA
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Policemen deliver directives to an arriving FDC guest ahead of the FDC party extra-ordinary delegates conference at Katonga Road in Kampala on September 19, 2023. PHOTO/ABUBAKER LUBOWAA
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Policemen remain on guard in a road as they blocked a planned FDC party extra-ordinary delegates conference in Busabala, Wakiso District on September 19, 2023. PHOTO/ISAAC KASAMANI
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Policemen disperse unidentified men who stormed an area next to the venue of a planned FDC national delegates meeting which was to be held in Busabala on September 19, 2023. PHOTO/ISAAC KASAMANI
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Policemen prepare to charge at dozens of people who gathered in Busabala, Wakiso District ahead of the FDC party extra-ordinary conference which was blocked. The meeting was then shifted to the Katonga Road offices in Kampala on September 19, 2023 where city mayor Erias Lukwago was named interim FDC party president. PHOTO/ISAAC KASAMANI
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Unidentified men arrive in Busabala on September 19, 2023 where a faction of the FDC was due to hold a national delegates meeting. Clashes later erupted between party supporters loyal to the Najjanankumbi bloc and their opponents of the Katonga establishment. PHOTO/ISAAC KASAMANI
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Policemen patrol parts of Busabala in Wakiso District where an FDC faction was set to hold a national delegates conference on September 19, 2023. PHOTO/ISAAC KASAMANI