Muntu, Mafabi speak unity

By Gloria Agwang & Moses Mulondo

Allaying fears of a likely divisive power struggle, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) president Gen. Mugisha Muntu and newly elected party secretary general Nathan Nandala Mafabi have assured the country that they will work together to propel the party to power.

After a tight contest for the presidency of the party between the two leaders in 2012, efforts to reconcile Gen. Muntu and Mafabi had hit a snag until last Friday’s delegates conference.

During the swearing-in occasion for the newly elected party leaders which started Monday, Gen. Muntu and Mafabi emerged from the office walking together and entered the tent outside on the frontline, perhaps to send out a message that the two hitherto rivals had reconciled.

This gesture of unity was actually solidified by various party leaders including Muntu and Mafabi; who even had to officially apologize to whoever he had wronged in the past.

“Nobody should think of groups in FDC. We are now one group. For FDC to take power, we have to be united. Whoever I have wronged, I ask for forgiveness. Whoever has wronged me, I have forgiven,” Mafabi said amidst ululations.

Muntu said, “Skeptics have been saying we are divided. People said FDC is no more. The Friday conference has resurrected us. We had a successful election and emerged intact as it can be seen today. Nobody can give what he does not have. Parties cannot give what they don’t have. Now that we are united, embarking on fundraising will be successful as people will see us working together.”

The former army commander used the same occasion to declare his bid for the 2016 presidential elections.

“When I took over the leadership of the party about two and a half years ago, I concentrated on marketing the party and building party structures than promoting my candidature. Having achieved that, I now wish to declare that I will offer myself as FDC presidential flag bearer,” Muntu declared.

To allow a fair process, the former army commander stated that he would soon step down as FDC party president to embark on the process of seeking FDC members’ mandate to elect him as their presidential flag bearer and later resume his office when the process is over.

“Consistent with our practices, the door is open to any other member who wants to compete for the same.
There will be fair competition. I can assure you that even if I get only one vote, I Muntu will be fully behind whoever will have been voted,” he elaborated.