The retired Colonel Dr. Kizza Besigye, founder of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), has forcefully taken over the party leadership through a delegates conference organised by the party chairman, Bigiriwa Wasswa.
“We have taken back the party from Nanjjanakumbi imposters; we will put it back on track to remove President Museveni, who has messed FDC up together with the help of our colleagues,” said Besigye.
Dr. Besigye, through Bigiriwa, organised a special delegates conference on the pretext of electing new national leadership. However, the real purpose of the conference was to oust Party President Amuriat, Nandala Secretary General, and Geoffrey Ekanya.
According to Ssemujju Nganda, the trio have been thrown out pending investigations and their positions taken up by their deputies with immediate effect.
“We have a number of resolutions to make, including firing the president, secretary general, treasurer and subjecting them to an investigation,” Ssemujju said.
However, Jack Sabiti, one of the founders of FDC, called Besigye a python full of venom, questioning Besigye’s morals for unlawfully replacing the Nanjjanakumbi leadership, which according to the FDC constitution are the rightfully elected leaders.
“Where does Besigye get the authority with his team to fire anyone from FDC? He is worse than Museveni; he uses more crude methods to destroy his opponents,” said Sabiti.
Sabiti added that Besigye tactfully chased Mugisha Muntu out of FDC, replacing him with Amuriat, and today he has done the same thing: give him time; even the deputies appointed today will be eliminated by Besigye.
Patrick Amuriat Oboi, in his response to the suspension, said that it is not legally binding; whatever Besigye did was to just expose his selfish and controlling ways.
“As far as I know, I am the legally elected President of FDC; they can make all the noise; I don’t care; and I am not the booty licker that Besigye wanted me to be,” Amuriat said.
According to Amuriat, the people who attended the ‘illegal’ conference at Katonga were not delegates; they were people collected and paid from Kisenyi and Kasangati, brought to Katonga to act as delegates to vote against them.
“Anyone who has held or organised a delegates conference knows what was at Katonga was nothing next to a delegates conference,” Amuriat said.
Amuriat stated that FDC’s problems were created by Besigye, since he is the real state agent who has made sure FDC does not move forward. A person who is fighting for change does not behave like he is.
Besigye did not start FDC alone; it is not his personal property that he wants to own, even if it were his own business, he would still hand over ownership to his children. Why can’t he let the party be under different leadership without his influence and defiance?
“His problem is well known; it is money, that is what is killing him. At Katonga, you should all have heard him claiming Nandala refused to fund them. Is Nandala supposed to fund him more than the weekly allowance he receives?” Amuriat said.
Amuriat further revealed that Besigye has and will always be part of NRM, there is nothing FDC about him, he is fully funded by the government, under the classified budget. However, when we discovered he is a state agent, he twisted the whole thing, framing Nandala.
Nickolas Opiya, a lawyer, has weighed in on the actions of Besigye and criticised his defying a court order and carrying out illegal appointments.
“It is criminal to defy a court order; abusing courts of law is a dangerous move on their part. I would have expected more from Besigye since he claims to be fighting for peace and the truth, which makes one wonder if he were in power, how radicle would he be,” said Opiya.
This matter is still in court following an injunction to stop the Delegates Conference until the two factions have come to an understanding, since each is claiming ownership of the party.