The crisis at Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) is not about to end. Instead, it is getting more complicated as party bosses continue to throw verbal punches at each other, trading accusations and counter-accusations. Party founder and four-time presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye has warned that the FDC could soon collapse while Nathan Nandala Mafabi and Patrick Oboi Amuriat have refused to resign following accusations that they received money from President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni of the NRM party with the intention of helping the general from Rwakitura fight Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine of the National Unity Platform (NUP).
With two press conferences held, one at both Katonga Road, where Besigye’s People’s Government is housed; and another at Najjanankumbi, the home of the FDC party, it has been a day of drama for the party that was one the leading opposition political organization.
BESIGYE’S WARNING
Blaming the current crisis in the FDC on state capture, Besigye did not mince his words in warning that the party he helped found could face the fate of other parties like the Democratic Party (DP) and the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) which have formal or informal cooperation agreements with Museveni of the NRM. His recommendation is that the FDC should have a new political strategy.
“The broad problem is state capture and the inability of political parties to function in that environment without being corrupted. When there is state capture, one cannot just present themselves as a political party that would function in Europe or elsewhere,” said Besigye.
“[In Uganda], there has been capture of the politics through commercialization of politics. This has been done deliberately. This has included the patronage system, which gives favors to the political elite. Political parties have not learnt from viruses to adapt themselves to the problem of State capture. They have continued to act as if they are democratic institutions functioning in a democratic society.”
It should be remembered that about a year ago, DP President Norbert Mao signed a deal with Museveni and was appointed minister. Mao has been boasting about his role convincing Museveni to peacefully hand over power. But Museveni came out and denied that he and Mao had talked about power handover or political transition in 2026. (See Details Here and There).
MONEY KEPT AT BESIGYE HOME
At the Najjanankumbi press conference, Nandala Mafabi, the FDC secretary general, sought to explain allegations that he and Amuriat, the party president, received money – said to be about Shs7bn – from Gen Museveni to fight NUP and Bobi Wine.
The allegations had been made by the Ssemujju-Lukwago camp which claimed that the two were on a mission to sell the FDC to Museveni. (See Details Here and There).
Nandala Mafabi dismissed Ssemujju’s claims as malicious and as being statements from a man desperate for power in the FDC. He dared the Ssemujju-Nandala group to provide evidence of receipt of the money and how it was used to fight Bobi Wine and to purchase vehicles as alleged.
“They alleged that we used the ‘mysterious money’ to procure vehicles for the 2021 general elections. These vehicles were paid for over a period of time, rather than by a single deposit,” claimed Mafabi.
“These attacks are glaringly deliberately to derail us so that Hon. Ssemujju and his clique have their way in taking over the party for their selfish ambitions. This, armed with the power of the FDC members shall not allow it to happen… Hon. Ssemujju’s clique has made allegations without providing any evidence despite constant requests to submit the same. If this is not malice, what is it?”
Amuriat explained the origins of the allegations from Museveni as being first raised by Dr Besigye about three years ago.
“The allegation of fund received from hostile groups by the party was first made by our founding President in 2020. He claimed that he had intelligence information that money had been received by the party from the Museveni establishment. It took us over two years to try to quietly resolve this matter without much success,” he claimed
“This accusations came to public light during the 15th National Council meeting held on 25th- 26th November, 2022 raised by our founder President Dr. Kizza Besigye. The acrimony arising from the debate moved the Council to resolve to have an Elders Reconciliation Committee set up using the procedures of the party. The main accuser and the accused and other top leaders of the party appeared before the Committee. It was my expectation that well-meaning members of the party would wait for the Elders Committee report… Our accusers offer no new evidence of foul conduct.”
MYSTERIOUS MONEY KEPT AT BESIGYE’S HOME
But Mafabi confirmed that he had asked Dr Besigye to keep hundreds of millions, being labelled by some as ‘evil’ and ‘mysterious’ money from Museveni.
Mafabi told reporters that at least Shs300m had been kept by Besigye. That he had withdrawn the money from the account after he realized that URA was following the same and would soon take away the money.
Contrary to reports that the money was meant for facilitation of polling agents during the 2021 elections, Mafabi insisted the cash was used for its intended purpose.
But where did the money come from? Both Amuriat and Nandala refused to disclose the source of the money, reasoning that they needed to protect the funder. He also revealed that the money was from a ‘friendly source’ and was used for its purpose. That even the Electoral Commission (EC), to which they are required to reveal the funding sources according to the Political Parties and Organizations Act, had audited the party’s books of accounts and found no illegalities.
It should be remembered that Besigye ran away from ‘Museveni moles’ at Najjanankumbi and opened an office at Katonga Road. One of Besigye’s allies later revealed that Museveni moles had also infiltrated the Katonga office. These revelations were made after party vice president Joyce Ssebugwawo dumped FDC and joined Museveni as a minister. More FDC bigwigs were expected to be appointed ministers in Museveni cabinet, according to this Besigye ally. (See Details Here and There).
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