Nandala set to win FDC secretary general contest

By Moses Mulondo, Alfred Wandera & Nicholas Wasajja 

Budadiri West MP Nathan Nandala Mafabi is set to be the next Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) secretary general, going by the thunderous applause and ululations that engulfed UMA exhibition hall after he had campaigned for the position.

There was a standstill immediately Nandala finished speaking as majority of the delegates gave him a standing ovation amidst prolonged ululations while some supporters carried around the hall. It took repeated pleas from the FDC EC chairman Dan Mugarura that the situation normalized and the program resumed.  

Mafabi’s candidature received more boost when firebrand Aruu County MP Odonga Otto stated he had stepped down for Nandala Mafabi to resurrect optimism and activism within the party.

“I, Dr. Besigye, Nandala, Ekanya, and Katuntu were involved in radical street activism until the party got a president with a new diplomatic soft approach. But that approach has not taken us anywhere. That is why I have decided to step down for Nandala Mafabi,” Otto said.

Mafabi promised a modern telephone to each district FDC secretary general and to immediately make all party district offices active when he takes over the powerful position.

Kampala woman MP Nabilah Nagai was duly nominated for the same position but she was absent.

Tempers flared up when Terego county MP Kassiano Wadri, who was the last to speak, attempted to directly attack Mafabi cautioning members that voting him into that powerful office would cause the collapse of the party.

“There is no way a person who doesn’t recognize the leader of the party can take over the office of Secretary General and the party does not collapse,” Wadri said.

Amidst heckling from Mafabi’s supporters, Wadri also warned that if the position of Secretary General does not go to someone from the Northern region which was the original stronghold for FDC, it would mean the region has been marginalized in key positions of the party. Heckling

Ever since Gen. Mugisha Muntu defeated Nandala Mafabi in an acrimonious contest for the presidency of the party, the two leaders have never reconciled.

Those who have already gone through unopposed even before elections are held include Aswa county MP as Vice President for the Eastern region and outgoing FDC secretary general Alice Alaso as FDC Vice President for the eastern region. The Leader of Opposition in parliament   Wafula Oguttu, who had been nominated for the same position, stepped down for Alaso.

After very lively and impressive speeches from Absalom Bwanika Bbaale, Wandera Ogalo, and Ambassador Wasswa Biriggwa, it became very hard for the observers to determine who is likely to become the next party chairman from three accomplished gentlemen.

At the end of today, FDC delegates will have elected to fill 35 national party vacancies except that of party president, Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu, whose term of office runs up to 2017.
   
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