Three Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) senior officials attached to the radical wing of Col Kizza Besigye last Tuesday stormed out of party management meeting convened by president Maj Gen Mugisha Muntu.
The heated meeting sat at FDC head offices at Najjanankumbi and was attended by 8 leaders some of whom include, Hon Alice Alaso, national chairman Ambassador Wasswa Biriggwa, deputy president central region Joyce Ssebuggwawo, secretary for mobilisation Igrid Turinawe, deputy secretary general Harold Kaija.
According to an insider the eight party stalwarts were discussing way forward on mobilising for EALA candidates (Ingrid and Ibbi Florence) who had been endorsed by the party for elections slated for today at Parliament and appointing deputy secretaries.
“The management had sat to discuss a strategy that would see our two candidates win election and represent us at Arusha,” said an insider.
However, tensions started rising when the party president tabled 21 names of individuals he had identified for appointment as deputy Secretaries of different party departments.
“The deputy secretaries qualify as members of the National Executive Committee (NEC),” added our source.
Ssebuggwawo was the first to protest. She is quoted thus: “my president, I am your vice here in Buganda, how do you come up with names to work for the party in Buganda without consulting me?”
Her concern was that the people Muntu as fronting for Buganda were those who are not known probably beyond their localities yet he was not open to discussions or new proposals. To this, Ssebugwawo said she would not be party to a process of forcing people into the party
“Leadership positions without due discussions; she picked her handbag and walked away,” a source narrated.
With 7 people left, Muntu kept on passing his nominees by ticking one name after another until they reached the deputies for the docket of Mobilisation and Organisation where Ingrid is the in-charge.
Ingrid disapproved of all the proposed 4 regional deputy secretaries.
“On western, the nominee was Hon. Bihande from Kasese who is the husband to the Kasese Woman MP and also Leader of the Opposition in Parliament. Ingrid submitted that there is no logic in appointing Bihande, a person who comes from Kasese as the mobiliser for Western; a district which already has 7 MPs yet the former legislator himself is not, according to Ingrid, one of the famous or popular leaders from western.”
She proposed Hon. Mwijukye Francis instead who she said is the only MP from Ankole, a young man who is quite popular in the whole region and also has some money which he has demonstrated willingness to spend some in party activities.
Muntu objected quietly and passed Bihande.
“Feeling ignored with discussions quite restricted, Ingrid also found herself not useful in the meeting anymore, off she burst out. Kaija found no reason to continue in the meeting either; he also walked out, away,” a source further revealed.
Besigye’s allies who subscribe to extremism continue to undermine Muntu’s leadership and he has since failed to consolidate his position as FDC president but rather rules in the shadow of his predecessor Col Kizza Besigye.
Besigye has been trounced four times on the ballot as presidential candidate by his long time political nemesis President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
Whereas he avers that his victory has not once been stolen by the NRM machinery, Besigye’s support base at the grass root remains feeble with no visible structures.
Thus giving chance to the NRM establishment to expand its infrastructure.
