Muntu said he will discuss the findings of the consultations with the party leadership once he is done, adding that he hopes the leadership will listen to the views, which he thinks can drive the party and country forward.
The Forum for Democratic Change FDC Secretary General, Nathan Nandala Mafabi, says he will thwart any attempts to skew party presidential elections in favour of any of the candidates in the race. FDC president Mugisha Muntu, who defeated Nandala in the 2012 elections, is the race to retain the top seat of Ugandas biggest opposition party. He faces competition from four other candidates who include former Kumi County Member of Parliament Patrick Oboi Amuriat.
Several MPs, including Nandala Mafabi and Matthias Mpuuga, put up a spirited fight to block Kafeero, whom they accused of having sinister motives to present amendments which were rejected last year.
Those who took oath today include Party Secretary General Nathan Nandala Mafabi, Kaija Harold the Deputy Secretary General in charge of administration, Geoffrey Ekkanya, the Party Treasurer General, and his deputies Wilberforce Kyambadde and Beatrice Anywar Atim.
FDC party electoral commission chairperson Dan Mugarura thanked the delegates for participating in the elections saying this shows their love for the party.
Michael Kabaziguruka acting FDC electoral commission chairperson says though the two and others have declared interest for the posts, it is not yet official because the constitution provides that they get nominated during the delegates conference.
Earlier before the elections, William Kitendwa, the commissioner had suggested that none of the former board member be nominated for elections, but his proposal was unanimously rejected by the farmers.
I want to assure you Rt. Hon. Speaker and Members that the incoming new Leader of Opposition is a distinguished gentleman, elder and statesman. I want to assure Honorable Wafula Oguttu of my total support. Please call on me whenever need arises.
Yusuf Mutembuli, the DP Vice Chairman for Eastern Region, calls Muntu’s action as a mess which will seriously cost not only the FDC party but the general opposition in the country. Last week, Muntu, who has been party president since November 2012, made changes dropping Mafabi as Leader of Opposition and replacing him with Wafula Oguttu.
Wafula was proposed for nomination by FDC party President Maj. Gen Mugisha Muntu during a management meeting sitting at the party headquarters in Najjanankumbi this morning. He is the FDC Party Spokesperson and Member of Parliament for Bukhooli North.
Speaking to URN on phone on Monday afternoon, Gen Mugisha Muntu said that he is the only one with the mandate to decide whether Nandala is demoted or retained as leader of the opposition in parliament in consultations with the party organs.
Opposition and Independent Members of Parliament have condemned the humiliating manner in which Kyadondo East MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda was lifted and forced out of the parliamentary chambers following Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah’s order.
Mafabi said that several Members of Parliament had earlier met with Speaker Rebecca Kadaga to stay the bill but that Oulanyah hijacked the process. This resulted in the confusion of two order papers circulating in the House during debate and passing of the bill.
They are Charles Walimbwa Peke, the incumbent Manafwa district LC V chairperson and James Netalisire, a businessman in Mbale also husband to Sarah Netalisire the Manafwa district woman MP.
Members of the opposition in Parliament have maintained their stand and stayed away from plenary proceedings starting Tuesday. The abstinence kicks off a three day demonstration by the members of Parliament led by the leader of opposition Nandala Mafabi.
Mafabi noted in his response that the President in his speech gave the nation flowery figures which he said that the figures will never mean anything if the President does not address himself to the problem of inequality, poverty and Unemployment.
They also claim that Muntu as a candidate abandoned and threw out the values of FDC by calling his opponents such as Mafabi unacceptable names like “scum†and “hypocrites.â€
The three candidates for the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidency on Monday promised to take the party to the people and build it towards capturing political power in order to change the path the country has taken.
Muntu, who started his campaigns today in Kabarole district says that his rivals are telling party delegates not to vote him, because he is soft spoken, less charismatic and non- confrontational. However, Muntu says that the party members should not judge him by the way he speaks, but by the decisions he has taken while he served the country and as party member.
