The consultative meetings by the Forum for Democratic Change Katonga’s faction in Teso and others regions have hit a snag after the delegates failed to show up.
Col. (Rtd.) Kizza Besigye and the group are currently traversing the country, carrying out consultative meetings to register a new political party.
They started from Mbarara, Kabale, Hoima, and other districts where a big turnout was registered.
In Teso and Bugisu, the home areas for the Najjanankumbi faction’s Nandala Mafabi and Patrick Oboi Amuriat, delegates have shunned the meetings and warned Col. Besigye’s team to first fix their messes before seeking their support.
The rift between Besigye and the duo escalated last year after Besigye accused them of receiving money from President Museveni in the campaigns that led to the 2021 elections.
FDC Members of Parliament from Teso, West Nile, Lango, and Acholi have all sided with the Najjanankumbi team, where they have vowed to politically discipline Dr. Besigye and his Katonga group.
Sources from Teso and Bugisu show that even the media personnel have not managed to cover the flopped meetings because of the same reason.
The source also shows that identifying party promoters has also failed because the delegates have not shown up for the signature collection exercise.
Besigye is paying the price of preferring separation instead of dialogue and reconciliation.
Over time, he has always accused his colleagues of being moles with no evidence and mistreating them to the extent of being left with no option but to quit the party.
This was the same strategy that Dr. Besigye used to politically exterminate former FDC Party President Gen. (Rtd) Mugisha Muntu from the party by accusing him of being a mole.
The recent disagreement hit Besigye hard since all the official documents and resources are in the hands of Nandala and Amuriat.
As his usual modus operandi characterized by ego and selfish interests, he could not opt for reconciliation but instead resorted to conducting consultative meetings with a plan to register a new political party, a move that has politically suffered a huge rejection in many regions.
It should be noted that Teso used to be FDC’s stronghold alongside Buganda, Rukungiri, and Kasese.
Having lost Buganda to NUP, Besigye’s anticipated new party may still be born.
Rukungiri has also gone to the hands of NRM, though Kizza Besigye can reclaim some of the seats. Rukungiri happens to be Besigye’s home but currently has only one Member of Parliament on an FDC ticket; the rest are NRM.
Besigye is just seeking to stay relevant, but the best options should have been reconciliation so that he stays in FDC and rejuvenates its lost glory, or joining other already established parties like the NUP to form a united force and put on a spirited fight in the 2026 elections.
It also beats the understanding of Ugandans that Kizza Besigye, who always says that Museveni cannot be removed by an election, is the same person registering a new political party to compete in the 2026 elections.
Individualism and selfishness are the biggest challenges facing opposition leaders in Uganda, and it is the same reason they have failed to unite for a common goal.
