Rift in FDC: Could Mafabi be breaking away?

By Brian Mayanja & Jeff Andrew Lule

Ever since members of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) concluded elections for their party president, most of them and the public have been left to speculate on whether the party will remain intact.

This follows several events that have unfolded in the last one month, as Nandala Mafabi’s campaign task force and his supporters continue to be rebellious to the party president, Gen Mugisha Muntu.

Although Mafabi accepted the poll results at Namboole with assurance to work with Muntu, his team argues that they are not contended with the manner in which the polls were conducted.

Mafabi team speaks

The team claims that the exercise was marred by malpractice. They argue that it would be meaningless to work with Muntu when FDC secretary general, Alice Alaso and Electoral Commission (EC), Dan Mugarura, are still in office.

Despite the ongoing events, Mafabi the main key player has remained silent thus leaving a lot of speculations among the public. He has neither denied or accepted the utterances made by some of his team members.

Victory party snubbed

Last week, Mafabi’s camp also refused to respect the invitation to a get-together party organised by Sam Njuba, the party national chairman, at his home in Nangabo, Wakiso. They said it was too early for a victory party, since their grievances had not been solved.

They instead handed in their petition to Njuba, demanding that a truth and reconciliation committee handle the issue of alleged election malpractice.

Surprisingly, some members from Mafabi’s camp attended the party, contrary to the camp’s position. They include Rukungiri Municipality MP Roland Kaginda and Kyadondo East MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda.

This team headed by Maj. Ruabramira Ruranga continues to criticise Muntu’s leadership contrary to what he promised at Namboole Stadium.

Signs of breakaway

Some analysts say Mafabi might break away from the party, though he is alleged to be one of the biggest funders. For instance, he donated sh700m to the party branch in Kasese district to set up grass root structures.

One of the indicators of his pending break away, analysts say, is setting up of a parallel secretarial bureau at Naguru, a city suburb, where his team and supporters camp to co-ordinate their activities.

When New Vision visited this bureau, it found some senior party members like Maj. Rubaramira Ruranga, John Kikoyongo, Sarah Eperu and Margaret Wokuri (FDC’s policy and research officer) busy working.

Efforts to get Mafabi’s comment on the matter were futile, but Eperu says he was still engaged in parliamentary and family affairs.

Mafabi team defence

Ruranga, the former head of Mafabi’s team, says they are using the bureau to do their personal work as they wait for the party to respond to their grievances and discipline those involved.

“We shall go back to Najjanakumbi because that is where we belong. We are only asking the party to address our concerns,” he noted.

Ruranga refuted allegations that Mafabi was planning to form his own political party, saying it would be political suicide.

“He is one of the shareholders in FDC. Like Dr. Kizza Besigye, Mafabi has sacrificed a lot for the party. He is ready to continue serving his party,” he noted.

Party sources close to Mafabi said he would not venture in forming a new party because he will lose his position as the Leader of Opposition in Parliament.

Mafabi team petition

In their eight-page petition signed by Ruranga, they asked Muntu to unconditionally apologise to Mafabi for allegedly calling him a scam and a hypocrite.

The group also want Anita Among, the party’s financial secretary, to face a disciplinary committee to answer charges related to sending an SMS that was false and offensive to opponents.

Njuba acknowledged receipt of the petition, adding that he was ready to listen to both camps.

But, he warned the group against engaging in acts that might lead to the splitting of the party, under the disguise of seeking for justice over the alleged election malpractices.

Selfish interests cited

Njuba said the party’s National Executive Committee, including the former party president, Dr. Kizza Besigye, are disgusted with some elements, who are self-seekers.

“During the recent NEC meeting, we advised those aggrieved with the election results to petition using the party channels, but they refused. Instead they are ever organising press conferences,” he said.

Njuba wondered why the group petitioned him, yet they know his position on the matter. “I told them that in any race, there must a winner and a loser. Since then, most of them don’t want to talk to me,” Njuba said.

Njuba attacked the group, questioning why they petitioned at the time when FDC had organised Muntu’s victory party.

“We are aware that this group is being used by a mafia clique in the country to disorganise us. But I can assure you that nobody can dare to divide our party,” he said.