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We are not afraid of defectors - FDC
Buhweju County MP Francis Mwijukye (centre) addresses FDC members in Nkokonjeru Mbarara Town at the weekend. PHOTO BY FELIX AINEBYOONA
Kabale/Mbarara-Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party officials have said defections by some of their members to Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), a new party formed by Maj Gen (Rtd) Mugisha Muntu, will not affect their support.
Speaking at the swearing-in of members of the “People’s Assembly for Kigezi Sub-region at the weekend, Mr Harold Tony Muhindo, the Bukonzo East MP, said attempts by defectors in Kasese District to weaken the party have been futile.
“In Kasese, it is where the national chairman for Alliance for New Transformation, Mr Yokasi Bihande, comes from but this will not have any impact on the FDC support in Kasese. When [Mr Christopher] Kibanzanga, [the Minister of State for Agriculture,] crossed, the NRM was sure they had finished FDC support in Kasese, Kasese has instead become stronger with all MPs now FDC,” Mr Muhindo said.
“You can’t fear because people are defecting, just organise yourselves, mobilise and know what you want,” he added.
Dr Kizza Besigye, the former presidential candidate, formed the assembly under “People’s government” in February.
He said the “parallel cabinet” of more than 40 people, will work with others to defeat the NRM in the 2021 general election.
Ms Ingrid Turinawe, the FDC secretary for mobilisation, said the party was lucky that Gen Muntu left.
“His departure and that of the people who claim to have since gone with him has eliminated all the obstacles. Our plans now move as planned and we are stronger. Then, we would plan when there is someone who would make it difficult to execute the plan or make sure it will not work,” Ms Turinawe said.
She said the ANT will not be a threat to the FDC since they have since reorganised and set up stronger structures that can’t be easily penetrated or challenged.
Gen Muntu quit the party in September last year together with Ms Alice Alaso (former FDC Secretary General and Serere Woman MP), Mr Bihande (former Bukonzo East MP, Kasese LC5 chairperson), and other members to start New Formation that is morphing into ANT.
Gen Muntu said he, and a group of other members resolved to leave the party partly because of irreconcilable differences with the current party leadership under his successor, Mr Patrick Amuriat.
“We do not do so in anger or animosity towards the current leadership, but in careful consideration of the national cause of liberating our country. The current party leadership needs to be given the opportunity to pursue their agenda untethered by the constant worry of sabotage or suspicion,” Gen Muntu said.
Speaking at the same function, Mr Francis Mwijukye, the Buhweju MP, said the assembly will help the party take power.
“These structures we are putting up will supplement the old structures of FDC in the struggle…We are sure that it works because it has worked elsewhere,’’ Mr Mwijukye said.
Mr Stanley Katembeya, FDC chairperson in Mbarara District, who was appointed the regional commissioner, said people should not think that ‘people’s government is only for one party but rather for all forces of change in this country.
“The structures we have formed will help us in mobilising Ugandans to demand for what belongs to them,” he said, adding that those who believe in people’s government cause will be moving at the same time in all parts of the country to win back their power.
