FDC attacks PFF founders, Ssemujju over greed for power

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Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party leaders have thrown barbs at the newly formed People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) party, whose founders filled multiple top positions.

In a series of social media posts shortly after the official inauguration of PFF in Kampala on Tuesday (July 8), the Najjanankumbi-based FDC described the development as greed and not leadership.

“All that noise, all that drama, just for positions? So now you’ve got the positions, some grabbed three, others two, some took the full package,” the party, which is led by Parick Amuriat, attacked in its opening salvo.

The "jabs" were aimed at the Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda and a once fierce political activist, Ingrid Turinawe, among the group that broke away to form a new party.

“Ssemujju took three positions: secretary general, publicity and head of mobilisation.

That’s not leadership, it’s greed. While they divide titles, we remain focused on offering Ugandans a true alternative,” reads a post on FDC's social sites.

The post is also described as "exhausting" for Turinawe to hold multiple positions.

“Ingrid took three positions: health, education, and social infrastructure. It must be exhausting carrying the whole government on her shoulders, or maybe just greedy hands,” it said.

FDC stalwarts said the party cannot tolerate certain behaviours such as worshipping ‘small gods’, individuals taking multiple positions, or ring-fencing positions for certain individuals.

“We are all equal, with the same rights. We are one Uganda, one people.”

Ssemujju's defence 

When contacted, Ssemujju defended his appointment to multiple positions, saying their party provides for it.

Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda. (File)

He argued that they cannot play politics in a socialist and communist way, in which everyone gets involved in running the party.

“In Uganda, people think every function is a position. For us, one person can perform more than 10 functions. The main work of the secretary general of PFF is actually mobilisation, branding and speaking for the party; not signing documents,” he said.

In other parties, Ssemujju, who is seeking re-election as MP, noted that every function is a position.

“But for us, these are just functions. We have assigned positions and people different roles different functions. Even when we go into government, we are going to consolidate these positions into functions shared by people who are responsible, [where] a small number of leaders perform different functions,” he said.

Other appointments

Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago was named as PFF national chairperson, with four deputies, including former Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Betty Aol and former Democratic Party Buikwe South MP, Dr Lulume Bayigga.

The Alliance for National Transformation party officials, led by their leader, Gen. Mugisha Muntu, and the president of the Conservative Party, John Ken Lukyamuzi, attended PFF’s first national convention that saw founding leaders unveiled.

Other notable PFF founding leaders include jailed four-time presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye, who serves as the chairman of its council of eminent persons.