Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party leaders in Buganda and Busoga sub-regions have endorsed the formation of a new political party under the Katonga faction.
The resolution was reached during a meeting held in Busoga on Saturday in which the leaders also said the new party should be led by Dr Kizza Besigye.
Earlier, Kira municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemuju Nganda hosted the FDC NEC members in Kira where they also agreed on forming a new party under the Katonga faction.
“In Namutumba, we sat on March 17, and everyone decided that a new party be formed and placed under your leadership (Dr Besigye) so that you lead us,” Dr Mukose, the Namutumba district FDC leader said.
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“For us from Kamuli resolved that since the FDC was sold to Museveni, let him take it and we get a new one. Additionally, the FDC people from Buyende have for years suffered under the hands of this government, and based on that, leaders from the 12 Parishes of Buyende resolved that a new party be formed. You never know it may be the vehicle that will rescue us,” the leaders said.
Mr George Tikwide, the Namayingo district FDC Chairperson, said that their supporters and leaders from the 50 parishes agreed that a new party could be a solution to their problems.
Speaking at the meeting, Dr Besigye who was part of the NEC members said that the initial responsibility of FDC was to rescue Uganda from alleged captivity.
“We want everyone to share the cake of their country and that is the war we are still fighting to date. Someone with a gun has seized everything in this country that’s why we are seeing the bad situation all over. Our children no longer go to school and those who manage do not see jobs……,” he said.
“Whether it takes us one or 100 years, we have to fight until we rescue our power back…..I want you to understand what besieged our party, where some of our loyal comrades have innocently lost their lives…some of the leaders whom we gave powers did otherwise….,” he added.
The four-time presidential candidate handed over FDC’s top leadership to Gen. Mugisha Muntu in 2012, who in turn handed over to Mr Patrick Amuriat Oboi, who according to Dr Besigye allegedly sold it to Mr Museveni.
At the the NEC meeting held in Kira on March 11, Ssemujju told the party leaders that their party after being hijacked by Najjanankumbi-based purported leaders, lost a sense of direction and public trust.
He noted that the (leaders are now struggling to gain traction with voters, making it difficult to mobilise the masses.
In attendance were also the acting party president Elias Lukwago, the party national chairperson ambassador Wasswa Birigwa, and the Secretary-General Harold Kaijja, among other leaders.
The Kira Municipal Council Speaker Frank Mukuye who supported Mr Ssemujju said, “From when [Norbert] Mao sold our party to NRM, we have been looking out for people to form a party which can bring us together,”
The group believes a new party is a way forward to bring together disgruntled party members who have since left Najjanankumbi following a bitter fallout with the leadership of party president Patrick Amuriat and his Secretary General Nandala Mafabi.
Hell broke loose last year when the once formidable political party, broke apart after accusations that Amuriat and Nandala brought in “dirt” in the party during the 2021 Presidential polls which caused leadership wrangles.
A resolution to seek members’ opinion if they should form a new political party came during the February 21st, National Council (NC) meeting that was held at Katonga offices.
This was after the Katonga faction failed to secure authority from the Electoral Commission regarding managing the party activities after the latter recognised their Najjanankumbi counterparts.
The February NC meeting passed six resolutions including; a proposal to form a new political party, reconciliation with Najjanankumbi people, continuing to fight through legal means to rescue their political party, formation of a social movement, and joining an existing political party.
But before a final decision was to be made, the meeting recommended two months of consultative meetings with their members in different districts across the regions of central, eastern, western, West Nile, and Northern, which subsequently took place and now the NEC members are collecting their views through a series of meetings with their leaders.
Mr Kaija told this publication that NEC has so far met leaders from two sub-regions and the meetings will go on until April 15.
“We shall then hold a National Delegates Conference on the date which will be confirmed, where we shall decide on the way forward,” he said.
He noted that NEC members will travel to Mbarara on Wednesday, April 3 for great Mbarara consultations, Thursday to south Kigezi, Friday to Rukungiri and Kanungu, Saturday to greater Bushenyi, and on Sunday they will be meeting Leaders of Greater Rwenzori.
