In a dramatic turn of events within Uganda’s opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), party president Patrick Oboi Amuriat has declared Kizza Besigye, a founding member of the party, persona non grata.
This move comes amidst escalating tensions and internal divisions within the FDC leadership.
Amuriat, who has been at the helm of the FDC since his election in 2017, issued the declaration in response to what he perceives as Besigye’s attempts to impose his leadership preferences on the party.
Amuriat fired the salvo on Monday while addressing parallel news conference at Najjanankumbi.
The two opposition heavyweights addressed members of the media.
Besigye, sitting at Katonga Road, a stone throw away from State House Nakasero leads a group perceived as radicals who subscribe to confrontational political style while POA, a once blue eyed of Besigye now heads a liberal faction of FDC after the two successfully hounded Gen Mugisha Muntu out of FDC in 2018.
Besigye who engineered a narrative in FDC that POA, his secretary general Hon Nandala Mafabi and a few other senior leaders had been bought off by President Yoweri Museveni reason he shunned POA national candidature in 2021, is accused of breeding a “dog that later turned against him.”
Many FDC fanatics say Besigye is now reaping what he sowed.
In his remarks POA said: “Dr Kizza Besigye can have his own choice of leader but I dare to say he cannot and will never be allowed to impose any leader on the FDC.”
He added, “I cannot impose myself to be the leader of Dr. Besigye but I can speak with authority that, whoever does not believe that I am the leader of the FDC indirectly says they are not members of the FDC.”
He reminded Besigye that FDC has only one president; “We can only have one president of FDC and the matter of leadership was resolved in the National Delegates Conference that sat in Lugogo on the 6th of October 2023.”
Besigye, a veteran opposition leader and former presidential candidate, has been vocal in his criticism of Amuriat’s leadership and has reportedly sought to influence the party’s direction.
The former NRA historical has been traversing the country consulting on whether he should form a new party.
Besigye’s stature within the FDC cannot be overstated.
As one of the party’s founding members and a prominent figure in Uganda’s political landscape, his exclusion from party affairs signals a seismic shift in the dynamics of the opposition movement.
The decision to declare Besigye persona non grata reflects Amuriat’s determination to assert his authority taking a bold step to send a clear message that internal dissent will not be tolerated and that the party’s leadership will be determined through established democratic processes.
“The leaders of the FDC will also be elected and recognized in the manner as it is stated within the constitution of the FDC,” he said.