
“Let us interrogate why Museveni would want to fund his opponents. Museveni knows that there is no power in Parliament; in fact, he wants us to be in Parliament to legitimize Parliament provided we do not seek to remove him; provided we are a good Opposition, he wants us in Parliament. Museveni wants to fund an impotent opposition. He also doesn’t want the Opposition groups to link up. He wants opposition groups to fight each other and he is behind the feuds among opposition parties” – Dr. Kizza Besigye (18.07.2023).
“We have received information about the funders of the Nsambya meeting from suspicious sources. All the people who contributed to that meeting have never contributed to the well-being of FDC” – Patrick Oboi Amuriat (19.07.2023).
Today there was two Press Conferences in regard to the wrangles in the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC). One Press Conference was held at Najjanankumbi and the other at PG Headquarters at Katonga Road. This means the two sides of the wrangle held their presser and told their sides without being together. It just shows how the FDC is drifting apart…
What was striking today was how Patrick Oboi Amuriat and Nathan Nandala-Mafabi went personal. They went directly to attack everyone on the other side. Instead of answering the grievances they went after the ones questioning the inner-circle of power within the FDC.
It is clear that the ones in the offices of Najjanankumbi isn’t listening or even considering the implications of the allegations put toward them. While the other party was addressing things in another manner and even enlightening. That’s shows the difference between Besigye and Amuriat or Mafabi for that matter.
I am disappointed by what came from Najjanankumbi today. They are trying to tarnish Besigye now. Because, he questions funding and they even said his was at fault or left Amuriat behind in the 2021 elections. It just shows that the leadership aren’t accountable for their own actions. There are even allegations of how they act like big-men and get other honourables to bend their knees for a possibility to be a flag-bearer or be on the FDC ticket. If that is true, than the culture of FDC is eroding and people are lavishing in the internal power.
That’s why this power struggle is important. The ones blaming or looking sideways at Erias Lukwago now is foolish. That is making him a fall-guy because what happened in the Democratic Party (DP) when he was there. If you do this, then you are window-dressing and not seeing the context is different from Lukwago within the FDC. He has to answer accordingly in the FDC in comparison to the DP. It is a reason why he left the DP and later became a part of the FDC. That’s was on the merits of the party and the allegiance he has with Besigye.
In regard to all of this, as the Ssemujju, Mwijyke, Byamugisha and Besigye is all trying to do a rescue of the party. Nandala-Mafabi is dancing on the grave of the party. As he wrote and said this about the matter:
“Let us also go back to the memory lane. During the 2006, 2011 and 2016 general elections, Dr. Kiiza Besigye as a presidential candidate was funded. We also went ahead and funded all the activism activities. All these were in billions of shillings but no one ever dared to inquire into the source of the money. We sourced for these funds legally and made these activities possible. In 2021 when Hon. Amuriat contested, we did the same sourcing of funds and made the campaigns possible. Why then is it a problem now when Hon. Amuriat is in the picture, but was never an issue then when we had Dr Kiiza Besigye as our presidential candidate?” (Nandala-Mafabi, 19.07.2023).
This is what the FDC Headquarters decided to do. It is the choice of the Secretary General and Party President to act like this. Instead of being transparent or accountable. They are instead trying to tarnish the founder and the former Presidential Candidate. The man who coined the People’s Government and People’s President. He who stood tall from the times of Reform Agenda and was a vital part of the creation of the FDC. That man is Nandala-Mafabi and Amuriat attacking. Like we don’t know Besigye or his story to this day?
Why can’t the current leadership show the funding and the paper-trail of finances in regard to the General Elections of 2021? What is so dangerous about doing so? Where did the money go and what was the plan?
Did POA go Barefoot to mock the struggle and use it as a trick to eat? Did the other FDC high ranking officials partake in it and endured everything while steadily attacking National Unity Platform (NUP) instead of going after National Resistance Movement (NRM). That’s what is bugging plenty of us and non of this was answered.
POA was just a static noise and disrespectful of others. He didn’t ooze charisma or anything. When he says the participants didn’t contribute to the FDC. Who is he to say that? Byamugisha, Nyanjura or a Ssemujju has done more than most. They haven’t been historicals or resting on their laurels. No, these are people who has stood tall and they are loyal to Besigye. That’s what hurts Amuriat or Mafabi, as they will never be regarded like him. These two speaks of sacrifices, but it is not like they built the party from scratch either. There was plenty of allies and former FDC high ranking officials who has done so. It just shows what happens and how things has eroded.
POA also said it was a trouble to have two headquarters, as if he would be in office without the PG Headquarters. He needed the support and wouldn’t have gotten into the Presidency of FDC without the hardliners surrounding Besigye. That’s why POA should reconsider how he was elected in 2017. The way he went into office will also be the way that possibly takes him out too. Because he has no subtle way or ideals to consider other ways of moving. That’s why the Besigye advice of changing ways or strategically reconfigure the party has been dismissed.
I’m sad for the FDC. This is a party that I was admiring and cherishing from afar. They where a promising unit and seemingly a difference from the NRM. Nevertheless, it seems to be all gone and on the deathbed. The leadership of FDC rather wants to tarnish and go after one of the key founders like Besigye. Than be accountable or transparent… and this party will always cry out loud for the government to be so…
POA and Nandala-Mafabi has to consider their next steps. This Press Conference was doing them no good. Neither was the publishing of their statement. It is just showing how they are not up for the leadership roles and to carry the greatness of the FDC. They are not proper custodians of this party, but instead enjoy the perks and privileges of being “opposition” in the Republic. That’s just sad… and the FDC deserves much better. Peace.










