Last Saturday a local daily newspaper reported how Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Secretary General Hon Nandala Nathan Mafabi angrily called President Yoweri Kaguta after the party failed to send a representative to the regional parliament.
FDC had endorsed two candidates Florence Ekwau Ibbi and secretary for mobilisation Ingrid Turinawe who got a hostile reception while campaigning in Parliament.
The strongest opposition party, according to Mafabi resolved to front two candidates because of its numerical strength in the August House where as DP and UPC fielded one contestant.
However, it remained predictable that on the polling day FDC would lose out on the 9 positions.
High ranking officials in the ruling party kept peddling a notion that had FDC sent only one candidate in the name of Ibbi, the party’s chances of nailing a slot would be higher.
Ingrid’s candidacy attracted criticism from day one because of the political strategy she subscribes to oppose what they term as Museveni’s increased authoritarian grip imposed on the people of Uganda.
Kisozi deal
A source within FDC who asked not to be named for fear of reprisal said that Mafabi who is the chairman of Interparty Organisation for Dialogue (Ipod), an umbrella that unites all political parties opted to seek audience with the NRM chairman.
The agenda of the meeting according to the source was to discuss the numerical strength.
“The arrangements to meet the President were made by Molly Kamukama, the Principal Private Secretary (PPS) of Museveni,” a source said.
This all happened a week before elections.
Museveni then agreed to meet the FDC honcho.
At Kisozi, Mafabi questioned why NRM continued to enjoy a huge share of slots (6 out of 9) and an influence opposition votes.
Mafabi’s grievance stems on the alleged decision the NRM caucus agreed on prior to elections to vote out FDC.
“Mafabi had gone to lobby so that FDC send 2 of its representatives,” a source added.
But Museveni only promised Mafabi that he would poach for FDC one position.
Budadili West legislator then resolved to send only Ingrid, “the hurdle was now to sell Ingrid’s personality among NRM MPs,” source said.
Museveni said he would sacrifice UPC representative Chris Opoka and reward him a government job. He then instructed NRM secretary general Hon Justine Kasule Lumumba and government chief whip Ruth Nankabirwa to embark on selling Ingrid’s candidature.
However, the MPs insisted Ingrid was outrageous when she branded them pigs and that she was among the opposition leaders who are question the legitimacy of NRM.
“They said it was payback time. They insisted to overturn their decision, Ingrid needed to apologize first,” a source said.
