The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Najjanakumbi faction has raised concerns about the source of funds being used by Dr. Kizza Besigye during his ongoing nationwide mobilization tours. The faction’s leadership is pressing Besigye to declare the origin of the funds, suspecting possible dubious means of acquisition.
Jack Sabiti, the Chairperson of FDC Najjanakumbi, accused Besigye, the former leader of the party, of operating outside the rules and distributing instructions along with sacks of cash. Sabiti expressed doubts over the source of these funds and suggested that Besigye may have obtained them from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and its leader, President Museveni.
“We believe that his sudden influx of funds is coming from NRM and President Museveni since Besigye is spending billions now which he did not have earlier,” Sabiti alleged.
The FDC Najjanakumbi leadership expressed deep suspicions about Besigye’s behavior, questioning his true intentions and suitability as a leader within the opposition. Sabiti emphasized that Besigye’s actions do not align with the party’s goals of achieving genuine change and promoting a united opposition front.
Sabiti further pointed out that the party’s financial situation had been dire following the exhaustion of funds during the previous presidential campaigns. With no definite source of funding other than Najjanakumbi’s assistance before the internal conflicts within the party emerged, the allegations of illegal funding during the 2021 elections exacerbated the financial strain.
“If Besigye claims there were inadequate funds during the previous elections, where is he suddenly obtaining these large sums of money from? We suspect that Besigye is wiping out the opposition by covertly acting on behalf of the NRM,” Sabiti asserted.
In response, the FDC secretariat at Najjanakumbi has called for a comprehensive audit into Besigye’s finances during his tenure as the party’s leader. The objective is to ascertain the legitimacy of his sources of funding, given the prevailing concerns and lack of trust surrounding the deployment of these funds for gaining political support.
While FDC leaders from Kabale and Rukungiri have urged Besigye to consider forming his party and parting ways with FDC, the leaders in Kasese hold a different view. They believe that Besigye should seek reconciliation with Najjanakumbi to avoid confusing supporters, as, ultimately, both factions share the common objective of achieving substantial political change.
These recent developments arise from Besigye’s return to active politics, despite previously proclaiming that he would only engage in activism and provide guidance to the younger generation. As the political landscape evolves, the funding debate within the FDC continues to intensify, leaving many members and supporters questioning the motives behind Besigye’s recent financial largesse.
