The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) recently conducted a membership audit, and the results have left the party leadership disappointed. The audit was spearheaded by Kaija Harold on behalf of the FDC, with the objective of assessing the actual number of members and identifying potential party promoters.
During the meeting held at Katonga offices on February 27, 2024, the FDC leadership and its most prominent figure, Dr. Besigye, discussed the alarming numbers revealed by the membership audit. Suggestions of forming a new party and embarking on a countrywide tour to promote the party and resource mobilization quickly emerged as prominent topics.
Sources close to the party have reported that the FDC’s membership numbers were rather discouraging. Recognizing the decline in support nationwide, the party leaders acknowledged that this has been caused by the unresolved conflicts within the FDC, sub-regional politics, and the emergence of the National Unity Platform (NUP). The FDC had initially hoped to align with the NUP, only to discover fundamental ideological differences that prevented a successful collaboration.
“During the meeting the numbers were not pleasing, suggestion of forming a new party and doing a countrywide tour to promote their party and resource mobilization was top on their agenda,” stated the source
Last year, the FDC split into two factions – Katonga and Najjanankumbi. The Katonga faction, loyal to Dr. Besigye, formed an alliance with the NUP and the Alliance for National Transition (ANT). However, this alliance was short-lived and couldn’t withstand the test of time. Consequently, the Katonga group has been searching for alternative strategies to remain relevant in the political landscape. As part of their efforts, they have now started countrywide mobilization to galvanize support and are even considering the formation of a new political party.
To boost the party’s finances, FDC members who hold seats in parliament and remain loyal to the Katonga faction have been instructed to redirect their monthly contributions from the FDC Najjanankumbi office to Katonga. In addition, pledges to increase the contributions have been made, and Dr. Besigye himself has promised to explore external funding sources.
These recent developments indicate a significant shift within the FDC as they grapple with declining membership numbers and the need to reshape their political strategy. The upcoming countrywide tour is expected to shed further light on the level of support the party still enjoys and may set the stage for the FDC’s future trajectory.
