FDC leaders fail to agree on Leader of Opposition

PIC: Mwejukye says so many politicians in FDC fear to abandon Besigye's political path of defiance

KAMPALA - The decision of whether to have a Leader of Opposition or not is set to divide the leaders of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).

Sources who attended the FDC National Executive Meeting revealed that the party is sharply divided on the matter with aligned to Dr. Kizza Besigye's camp protesting plans to have a LOP on the ground of their claim that their party candidate won the 2016 presidential election.

The meeting ended late at night when they had failed to agree on whether to appoint a LOP or not.

In a directive the speaker Rebecca Kadaga made last week, all parties are supposed to submit names of their leaders in parliament latest today (May 25, 2016).

Speaking to New Vision regarding the matter, FDC activist and Buhweju County MP Francis Mwijukye said, "Members are still divided on the matter. Many think we should name the Prime Minister not Leader of Opposition since our candidate Besigye won the presidential election."

Mwejukye said judging by what has happened in the past, so many politicians in FDC fear to abandon Besigye's political path of defiance since it has potential of making them lose elections.

"Many of us think that by insisting on the line of saying Besigye won and that it is us in power we would be furthering the struggle we are involved in," he explained.

It is upon that background that a group of FDC activists yesterday stormed the party headquarters protesting the plan to appoint a LOP.

The invasion of the activists carrying placards warning the party president against appointing the LOP disrupted the party's National Executive Committee meeting which was going on regarding the matter.

"We won the elections. Form our next government. No shadow cabinet. No Leader of Opposition," the activists kept shouting.

It took the intervention of the party Secretary General Nathan Nandala Mafabi and secretary for mobilization Ingrid Turinawe to calm them.

While addressing the party's press conference on whether the party would appoint a LOP, FDC spokesman Ibrahim Nganda said, "The ruling party in the US has minority seats in parliament and its leader is called the leader of the minority. So, no matter what title we shall call that person, FDC will have a leader in parliament."

Throwing more light on what Nganda had said, FDC secretary for mobilization Ingrid Turinawe said, "FDC is not in opposition. We won the presidential election and our candidate was sworn in as president of Uganda. Don't inject any other word in our mouth."

Sources however reveal that most FDC legislators are supportive to the idea of having a LOP.

Talking to New Vision yesterday, Soroti woman MP Angelina Osege said, "Many of us are of the view that the next Leader of Opposition should be a woman. This is the right time. I hear many suggesting Winnie Kiiza but I am also available."

The other person reportedly suggested by many FDC leaders to be the next Leader of Opposition is Dokolo woman MP Cecilia Ogwal.

Asked whether she had bribed FDC leaders to have many of them wishing her to be the next LOP, Cecelia Ogwal responded with laughter and said, "Any who knows me is aware I cannot give a bribe. I think people appreciate my contributions.

"As president Museveni said recently, I spearheaded the fight for the return of multiparty democracy in the country. Arrests did not deter me. I mobilized people to work on CA both on multiparty democracy and on federalism."

Asked what would be her priority if appointed LOP, Ogwal said, "We need to reconcile both internally in FDC and in parliament. I would therefore use that platform to reconcile the people of Uganda. Besigye's being in jail is because of a political question not a legal question. I would therefore bring people together to generate a national consensus."