Kira Municipality Member of Parliament, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, is, in a dramatic turn of events, set to leave the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) to join the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) after the Speaker of Parliament helped him defeat Nandala Mafabi in the recent struggle for the FDC party whip in parliament.
In a letter dated August 16, 2023, the Speaker of Parliament, Annet Anita Among, reinstated Ssemujju as the Chief Whip for FDC in Parliament.
According to the speaker, a party is supposed to agree on who to appoint as party whip as a whole. However, the decision was taken by Nandala Mafabi independently, without other party organs.
“I am therefore unable to effect communication until the matters raised have been resolved and a communication made to that effect to avoid legal consequences of the same and disruption of Parliamentary Business,” she said.
Sources in Parliament state that this follows events where Ssemujju approached Rt. Hon. Among last week, requesting that she safeguard his position as FDC Whip by rescinding Nathan Nandala Mafabi’s letter, which aimed to replace him with MP Yusuf Nsibambi.
However, before the speaker could assist Ssemujju, she made it a condition that he join the ruling NRM.
According to parliamentary sources, Ssemujju readily agreed to the requirement because he intended to leave the FDC party in the event that MP Nsibambi were to take over on a permanent basis and following the rescue, Ssemujju has started talks on how he is going to exit the FDC party.
“This should not be a problem for Ssemujju since he has expressed interest in leaving FDC recently because its leadership is corrupt,” the source stated.
Ssemujju recently accused Party President Patrick Amuriat and Secretary General Nathan Nandala Mafabi of being corrupt leaders, claiming that they have introduced unaccounted-for funds into the party, a move he refers to as bringing in “dirty money,” while refusing to reveal the source of the funds.
According to sources, it is anticipated that by the end of 2023, the process of Ssemujju’s party switch will be finalised, and he may potentially join the NRM party.
