Whoever has been anxiously awaiting to witness a mass exodus of Forum For Democratic Change (FDC) MPs from Kasese should better wait to celebrate since five out the six have already chosen to stay in Uganda’s strongest opposition party at the expense of against Gen Mugisha Muntu’s Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) party.
In a telephone conversation on Tuesday 30, Wareed Lubega – the FDC National Youth Chairperson confirmed that five of the six legislators have already picked nomination forms from either Najjanankumbi or Kasese District FDC offices, with the exception of former Leader of Opposition and also Kasese Woman MP. Winnie Kizza. Mr Lubega however said that Kizza was also expected to follow suit anytime soon.
Kasese is the only district in Uganda that voted opposition 100% in the 2016 general elections with all six MPs coming from FDC.
Rwenzori sub region is represented in Parliament by Robert Centenary for Kasese Municipality, Mbaju Jackson for Busongola South, Atkins Katushabe for Bukonzo West Harold Tonny Munindo for Bukonzo East and Nzoghu William Tushabe for Bukonzo North while Winnie Kizza is the Kasese Woman MP.
The 2018 bitter split within the party that saw former Party President Mugisha Muntu quit the party he had helped form in 2005 to form a new one – ANT had threatened FDC’s existence with majority of the MPs loyal to the former Army Commander expected to go with him.
While answering the question on what could have prompted the MPs to make the surprise U-turn, Lubega attributed it to the tireless efforts by Party President Eng. Patrick Amuriat’s administration in engaging the aggrieved members with the aim of resolving their differences.
“Forum for Democratic Change( FDC) is the Political Party platform with sound and solid history, It has weathered the storm, its the Party of the moment, wields and commands influence, strength and glory and it’s the Party to lead and shape the political destiny of our motherland Uganda in the foreseeable future,” Lubega boasted.
“We in FDC, we are still on course. We are the blue people. Join FDC and we build a new better Uganda that works for all.” He added.
The development will certainly come as a heavy blow for General Muntu who just a few days ago announced he had stepped down as ANT’s National Coordinator to prepare for his candidature in next year’s Presidential elections.
Muntu, who has already passed unopposed as his ANT’s presidential flag bearer had largely been tipped to exploit the ideological conflict within his parent party FDC to build a power base for his new party with mass defections of leaders which would give him an assured representation in the 11th Parliament.
Other pro Muntu MPs who have already picked nomination forms from FDC include Angelina Osege and Cecilia Ogwal whereas others like Prof. Ogenga Latigo, Paul Mwiru are yet to declare whether or not they have left the party.
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