All the leaders behind the rejuvenation of Party structures have now crossed to National Unity Platform plunging the party in a leadership crisis. Among them is Erasto Kibirango, the DP District Chairperson, the former District Woman MP Brenda Nabukenya who has been serving as Secretary for Women Affairs and Lawrence Sewino, the Secretary for Youths Affairs.
Jimmy Patrick Okema, the Aswa River Regional Police Spokesperson says the restriction falls within the guidelines of COVID-19 established for political parties to follow while conducting activities.
But according to Mao, Dr Kizza Besigye has been a formidable force in challenging Museveni’s rule and that next year’s election is going to be the biggest test for FDC. He says that even though nature abhors a vacuum, Besigye leaves a vacuity that can never be filled.
On January 9th 2020, the DP President General, Norbert Mao issued guidelines on the party road map leading to the National Delegate’s Conference where he directed the sub-branch and branch executive committees be elected based on the party register.
The party had rolled out its 2021 General Election roadmap listing mass recruitment and registration of new members as the first activity, preceding grassroots elections. As part of the process, the party distributed registration books also known as the green books, to be used as voter registers.
“We are in talking terms with our colleagues but we have not joined anything yet. We have not reached that level to say that we have joined anything or we have really seen the blue print so I can safely say we have not joined” Said Akena in a phone interview with the URN
The opposition legislators met over the weekend in a three day retreat at Entebbe led by the Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Betty Aol Ocan, their party leaders and representatives from Uganda People's Congress (UPC), Democratic Party (DP), Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and Justice Forum to chat away forward.
The NRM party Spokesperson, Rogers Mulindwa told URN in a phone interview that they didn’t receive a formal invite. He explained that contrary to usual practice, they only received a whatsapp message, which they thought could be followed up with a formal communication in vain.
The Deputy FDC Spokesperson, John Kikonyogo, says they are ready to take over the IPOD leadership, saying the key issue they will be looking is handling the transition of power from the NRM government to another. He says FDC will effect the MoU that binds IPOD members.
The ANT National Coordinator and Founder Gen. Mugisha Muntu told journalists at their offices during an induction training of party coordinators in Buganda that they share all their programs with all forces of change with the exception of FDC.
The IPOD leadership rotates among subscribing the parties. The term of DP expired on September 20th, 2019. DP was expected to handover the IPOD leadership to FDC but this didn’t happen. DP said FDC hadn’t been committed to IPOD, which made it doubtful if they could take over and commit to its leadership.
Muntu noted that Museveni's government is characterized by high levels of corruption, dictatorship, brutal arrests, murders, kidnaps, poor judicial system and unemployment. He said several Ugandans are frustrated with Museveni’s government, which has continued giving them lip services.
