NRM cash splits FDC bigwigs

Disagreements that have been quietly brewing within the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) political party finally erupted into public view on Monday, July 17.

A group of senior party members gathered at the Sharing hall in Nsambya, Kampala, for a consultative meeting with the theme “Redirecting FDC to its Core Mission.”

The objective of the meeting was to address the internal challenges the party is currently facing. The meeting provided confirmation of previous reports that hinted at underlying issues within the party.

Led by Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, a member of parliament representing Kira municipality and the FDC whip in parliament, the party leaders, predominantly National Executive Committee members, leveled accusations against their party president, Patrick Oboi Amuriat, and Secretary General Nathan Nandala-Mafabi.

They claimed that these leaders were involved in a conspiracy to mortgage the party to President Yoweri Museveni. Ssemujju emphasized the accountability gaps within the party and expressed concerns about the upcoming internal elections. He drew attention to the mysterious money that the party received leading up to the recent 2021 general elections.

The source and amount of this money remain unknown, but given the substantial expenditures made by the recipients, it is believed to be in billions. Specifically, Ssemujju implicated Nandala-Mafabi and Amuriat as beneficiaries of this suspicious funding. He also confirmed previous reports suggesting that the money had been used to purchase brand new cars from Cooper Motors, among other expenses, for use during the elections.

While the party president and secretary general have provided explanations that satisfied their known loyalists and new supporters, Ssemujju stressed the importance of ensuring that all members of the FDC are convinced that the money did not come from President Museveni, as some believe.

As a result of the allegations surrounding the mysterious funding, the FDC National Executive Committee (NEC) established a committee led by former Kagoma MP Dr Frank Nabwiso to investigate the matter. This committee was formed with the aim of restoring harmony within the party before conducting elections for new leaders.

However, while members were awaiting the committee’s report, the party announced its intention to proceed with elections on July 17. Ssemujju, along with others such as Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and Buhweju MP Francis Mwejukye, vehemently opposed this decision, insisting that the underlying issues must be resolved before moving forward.

Amidst this ongoing dispute, the national chairman, Wasswa Biriggwa, wrote a letter to the party president, secretary general, National Council, and all other party organs, suspending the elections. Biriggwa called for the National Council to convene and address issues related to the electoral roadmap, the readiness of the party’s electoral commission to conduct a free and fair election, and the report from the Nabwiso commission.

Ssemujju expressed his confusion regarding the party’s mission, as there appears to be a contradiction between the expectation of an impending split if elections proceed and the insistence that elections must take place. He suggested that the intention might be
to silence anyone who raises concerns about the suspicious funding by pushing them out of the FDC.

“I genuinely don’t know what their mission is. You say we are headed for a split when we go for an election. And then every day you say, elections must take place. People are saying let’s first put the house in order you’re saying, no no no, you’re delaying us,” said Semujju adding, “I think the game plan is to push anyone who speaks about this money outside the FDC.”

The eagerly anticipated National Council meeting of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) is set to take place on July 28, 2023, at the party headquarters in Najjanankumbi. Semujju, a prominent figure within the FDC, expressed his concerns about the upcoming elections, emphasizing that they should not become a mere ritual like the national elections organized under the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).

He pointed out that conducting an election without a voters register, something unprecedented in the party’s history, is being advocated by the election proponents.

The Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, who also serves as the FDC vice president Central, corroborated earlier reports, confirming that
during a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) to discuss matters of accountability and elections, individuals with malicious intent were brought to the party headquarters to intimidate the members present.

Lukwago voiced his belief that there are members within the FDC who aim to deliver the party to President Yoweri Museveni, likening them to certain individuals in the Democratic Party and the Uganda People’s Congress who took similar actions.

Lukwago called upon all members of the National Council to attend the meeting and collectively determine the new direction the party should take. Francis Mwijukye, the Buhweju member of parliament, stressed the importance of breaking the silence surrounding long-standing issues that have burdened the party, particularly regarding its governance by only two members.

He highlighted ongoing accountability problems within the party that have remained unaddressed. As the party’s deputy treasurer, he admitted to having no knowledge of how the funds received from the Electoral Commission are being spent. Each year, based on their numerical strength in parliament, political parties share Shs 35 billion, with the FDC receiving close to Shs 2 billion.

Mwijukye revealed that the party treasury has no information on the source or usage of the money in question. Contrary to expectations, the funds never reached Najjanankumbi but were apparently being spent through someone’s personal residence.

Wycliffe Bakandonda, one of the founding members of the FDC, expressed grave concerns about the party’s current trajectory, emphasizing the need for immediate intervention.

He lamented that when the party was established in 2004, their vision was to bring democratic change to Uganda, not to become entangled with President Museveni, whom they accuse of being a dictator.

This is not the first time that the FDC has faced significant challenges resulting from internal disagreements. In 2017, a group led by then party president Maj. Gen Mugisha Muntu disagreed with their colleagues and decided to part ways, ultimately leading to the formation of the Alliance for National Transformation.

The FDC now finds itself once again grappling with internal divisions, underscoring the complexities of maintaining unity within a political organization.

mmkakembo@gmaill.com

Additional reporting by URN