Whereas Doctor Kizza Besigye has coherently, fervently and vehemently denied meddling in the affairs of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) using his parallel office at Katonga Road, on the contrary his fanatical group has announced a date to host an illegitimate Delegates Conference.
The Delegates Conference is the highest decision making organ of the party that overseas election of Secretary General, Party President/ Flagbearer and other crucial positions of National Executive Committee (NEC).
1097 FDC leaders from across all regions of Uganda constitute the FDC Delegates Conference.
According to Harold Kaija, the FDC deputy secretary general in charge of administration, who crossed to Katonga camp, the planned delegates conference will take place on September 19 on the shores of Lake Victoria at Natures Green Resort Beach Busabala in Kampala.
The development comes after FDC Secretary General Hon Nandala Mafabi declined to release shs 638 million to party chairman Wasswa Biriggwa to fund the said event.
“Office of the Party Chairman has called for an Extra-Ordinary National 19th — Delegates Conference on Tuesday 19 September, 2023 in Kampala. The total number of expected participants are 1970 including 1560 delegates and 410 other guests/participants.
This is to request you provide funds totaling to Six hundred thirty eight million, two hundred forty three thousand two hundred eighty shillings only (Ugx.638, 243,280) to allow us implement this activity. Please find the attached budget for details I thank you,” Mr Biriggwa letter to Mafabi reads.
Mafabi responded by questioning Biriggwa’s intentions since he presided over a National Council meeting on July 28 that resolved first conduct NEC election on October 6.
Mafabi warned Biriggwa against implementing resolutions of Kizza Besigye and his errant Katonga group.
“By the above cited conduct, you seem to be implementing resolutions of the press Conferences of Katonga by Dr.Kizza Besigye of 2/08/2023 and Fairway Hotel of 17 leaders of 3/08/2023 respectively yet Katonga is not an organ or structure of FDC that the Chairman has to implement its resolutions,” Mafabi’s letter reads in part.
For 8 years Biriggwa had not summoned a delegates conference, what then would be his interest in calling the meeting in these dying minutes of his tenure as chairman?
“Having been the Chairman of the Party for 8 years, you had the time to convene the Delegates Conference which you never did but choose to call it now at the tail end of your term of office. At this critical time, you are enhancing disharmony and implementing the roadmap of the Katonga and Fairway Press Conferences which contravenes Article 28(1) (b) (iii) of the FDC Constitution,” Mafabi further informed the former NRM envoy.
Dr Kizza Besigye a four time Presidential candidate whose role in founding FDC was put to question by Hon Mafabi has lately called up “the owners of the party” to immediately reclaim their political organization before it is handed over to President Museveni whom he accuses of releasing huge amount of money that was received by Mafabi and Patrick Amuriat, the party president.
Besigye, however, failed to avail evidence to back his accusations.
Hon Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda the former FDC spokesperson insisted that the two leaders Mafabi and Amuriat must either resign or they will be forced out.
It remains a subject of debate whether Besigye and his allies will get quorum of the delegates to make the proceedings of this conference valid.
