Kasese by-election: FDC wants DP to pull out

By Bernard Masereka

The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party has started negotiations with Democratic Party (DP) to persuade DP candidate, Rosemary Masika to withdraw from the Kasese woman MP by-elections.

DP vice president, Imam Makumbi told the New Vision in Kasese town that FDC party officials had approached and asked him to convince the DP party candidate to drop out of the race.

“I have been approached by Sam Mwijukye, the aide to Dr. Kiiza Besigye to agree on a candidate as members of the opposition but we are not willing to do so,” Makumbi said.

“Our candidate is strong and DP as a pioneer party in Uganda cannot accept to step aside for FDC which I consider a product of DP,” Makumbi added.

He said DP pulled out of the Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality in favour of FDC candidate, Oddo Tayebwa and so FDC should return the favour this time.

 DP is eyeing leadership of the opposition in Parliament in the 2016 general elections by increasing its support at the grassroot levels now.

The party wants to use the Kasese woman MP by-elections to establish itself on the ground.

Makumbi dismissed earlier media reports by the party secretary, Mathias Nsubuga that DP had resolved to pull out of the Kasese race and support the FDC candidate, Winnie Kiiza.

He however revealed that some meetings among leaders of the two parties were being planned so as to reach a harmonized position on the matter.

The Kasese district DP boss, Deus Mutabazi had earlier told New Vision that he was not consulted about choosing a candidate for the DP party in the by-elections.

Mutabazi has not even been seen campaigning for the party candidate since Monday when open campaigns started in Kasese district.

While addressing rallies at Bugoye and Maliba trading centres in Busongora north constituency Masika asked the locals of Kasese to vote for her, promising to promote unite and fight corruption.

“I want to ask the people of Kasese to vote for me as a symbol of unity.”

“Since FDC and NRM supporters have been at war all the time, we can only consolidate the unity of the people of Kasese if we don't vote any of their candidates,” Masika remarked.

The battle for the Kasese woman MP seat is seen as a battle between Winnie Kiiza(FDC) and Rehema Muhindo(NRM).

The independent candidate Betty Kayezu is rumoured to have pulled out of the race in favour of the NRM candidate.