Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) national leaders and members of the national executive committee (NEC) under the Katonga faction, have condemned the violence and brutality that was meted out against the delegates during an extraordinary delegates meeting at Katonga Road offices. 

The skirmishes which started at Natures Green Resort, Busabala in Makindye Division, on September 19, 2023, escalated to reach the Katonga Road offices of four-time presidential candidate and the former FDC president, Dr Col (Rtd) Kiiza Besigye. 

According to a statement released by party spokesperson and Kira Municipality MP, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda on Monday, September 25, five FDC delegates from Busia District were allegedly battered at Busabala under the watchful eye of the Police allegedly commanded by David Kamugira. 

“Delegates Kassim Masya, John Kaseera, Monday Felix, Hassan Opio and Christopher Wejuli Goa were clobbered in Busabala trading centre before accessing the venue where the meeting was supposed to take place,” Ssemujju said. 

“We ask the Police, since they know and work with these criminals, to return their belongings including phones, money and national identification cards that were snatched from them,” he added. 

Some of the youth accused of causing commotion confront the Police after being blocked. (Photo by Isaac Nuwagaba)

“The conduct of deployed Police officers that day suggests that these criminals freely interacted with police before taking positions from which they mugged our people,” Ssemujju said. 

Goons in ghettos  

Ssemujju alleged that the Najjanankumbi offices were closely working with the Police Directorate of Crime Intelligence headed by AIGP Brig. Gen. Christopher Damulira, and have also involved ghetto youth in Kampala. 

“We have since established that they were collected from Ndeeba, Katwe, Mulago, Kisenyi and each was paid sh100,000 for commanders and sh50,000 for squad members to hunt down, harm or even kill the delegates,” he explained. 

The Police had before the conference informed the convener, party chairman Wasswa Birigwa that the Police were not in a position to guarantee security at a delegates’ conference that had earlier been halted by a court order. 

“We intend to file private criminal charges against Najjanankumbi leaders Nathan Nandala Mafabi and party president Patrick Amuriat Oboi and several Police commanders for sponsoring and abetting crimes,” he said.

Suspects arrested

In the aftermath of the scuffles, the Police followed up on the matter and arrested three alleged members of the gang; Hamis Kaita, Alex Kutesa, and Moses Muyima. They were apprehended by citizens and handed over to the Police. 

Ssemujju disclosed that the trio were remanded to Luzira Maximum Prison after being charged at the Buganda Road Court and that others were arrested and are still at Katwe Police.

Some of the youth accused of causing commotion during an extraordinary delegates meeting at Katonga Road offices. (Photo by Isaac Nuwagaba)

Ssemujju also listed the names of those he alleged are notorious tormentors of FDC party leaders. These, he claimed, are Farooq Minawa, Juma Akankwasa, Moses Matovu Saawa, Muhammad Kiryowa, Zubair Dinja, Abdul Mattu, Jackson Ssemwanga, Ali Muzei, Meddie Musisi, Baker Mukiibi, Godfrey Ssembusi and Robert Kavuma.

Nandala Mfabi dismisses allegations

In response to the claims, FDC Secretary General, Nathan Nandala Mafabi, was dismissive, saying the party has been conducting its work without any help from the Police. 

“I do not know anything about those goons and I do not know who sent them and whom they are working for,” he told New Vision. 

Police respond 

The Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson, Patrick Onyango, dismissed allegations by Ssemujju, advising him to report to the Police and give details of all that the party found out to help them kick-start the investigations. 

“If it is true that the Police are aiding criminality. We need evidence to summon the suspects including those names of the youth alleged to have been beating people in Busabala and Katonga,” he said.