FDC blasts NRM over Kyankwanzi retreat

By Eddie Ssejjoba and Anita Atuhaire

FORUM for Democratic Change (FDC) has attacked the National Resistance Movement (NRM) for holding a party retreat soon after Parliament returned from recess. The main opposition party said this, would delay the passing of electoral reforms that should be in place before next year's general elections.

FDC spokesperson, John Kikonyongo, told journalists during a weekly briefing at its party headquarters in Najjanankumbi that the NRM had intentionally summoned all its members for a retreat as a tactic to delay Parliament business.

NRM legislators are attending a one and half week's party retreat at National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi, which was opened by party chairman President Yoweri Museveni on Sunday.

"We shall not allow or participate in the general elections due February next year without putting in place new electoral reforms, which can only be done after amending the Constitution," Kikonyogo said.

According to Kikonyongo, NRM had enough time to convene a meeting when Parliament was on recess but decided to meet at a crucial time for debate on the urgently needed reforms.

Kikonyogo said FDC and other opposition parties had come up with 18 reforms government must work on before February next year.

The reforms include among others, demarcation of electoral boundaries, selection of presiding officers, freedom to organization and assembly, processing of electoral materials, ensuring integrity of tallying process.

They also demand for an independent and credible judiciary to adjudicate election disputes, spell out tenure of office of the President.

"We therefore appeal to all peace loving Ugandans to put pressure on government to ensure the reforms are passed on time," he said.

Kikonyogo said he would not individually accept to commit his party to take part in the coming general elections if their demands were not met and hinted on stepping aside from his position 'to get time to engage in activism' prior to the elections.

He said FDC will be willing to accept defeat if the election process was conducted through a free and fair manner.

According to Kikonyogo, FDC would not endorse any arrangements outside general elections. He said party would hold its delegates conference on February 27 to make a final decision on the way forward.

The new electoral body, according to Kikonyogo should be at this time traversing the country sensitizing voters and cleaning the register.  

Kikonyogo appealed to party members and other Ugandans interested in change to start fundraising for its activities as they near election time, saying the party badly needed funds for its business.

"We had more than 2 million voters in the last general elections, if each one of them contributed shs1,000, we shall have enough money to sustain our campaigns and other business without putting stress on a few individuals," he said adding they should emulate the spirit of the National Resistance Army fighters who sacrificed and worked for their goal without considering financial benefits.