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ANKOLE - The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party mobilisation meetings in different parts of Greater Ankole region have been aborted.

The development follows clashes from supporters loyal to former party president Dr. Col. (rtd) Kiiza Besigye of Katonga faction with Najjanankumbi headquarters-leaning supporters under party president Patrick Amuriat Oboi and secretary general Nathan Nandala Mafabi.

The hostile supporters’ disagreements emanate from the ongoing fresh grassroots mobilisation tours in western Uganda following elections of newly sworn-in delegates conference leaders that were elected at Patidar Samaj playground in Lugogo, Kampala last year.

New FDC party chairperson Jack Sabiiti and western region vice-president Robert Centenary led a team of FDC Najjanankumbi leaders to Mbarara city on Tuesday to hold a meeting at Pelican Hotel before angry FDC supporters jetted in with the help of the Police to disperse the mobilisation meeting.

According to Sabiiti, they had informed the hotel management but they were shocked when the rowdy youth stormed the venue ordering them to pack all their belongings including tents and chairs, and vacate Mbarara district.

“No sooner had our group settled under the tents to meet than FDC goons led by shadow regional governor and ‘mayor’, Stanley Katembeya walked in like bees to cause confusion and disperse our meeting,” Sabiiti said.

The former Rukiga County legislator decried hooliganism and defiance that the youth used to flush them out of Mbarara when they had informed the country about their planned mobilisation tour.

Centenary, who replaced Roland Mugume Kaginda, lashed out at FDC youth leaders who are working towards the downfall of the party.

“I do not expect FDC youth leaders to be the ones destabilising us from organising the party from the grassroots. I am shocked,” he said.

Sabiiti speaks out about aborted meetings

"It was not [the] Police disturbing us per say but the faction of Katembeya came with the Police to cause fracas before we drove off from Mbarara," Sabiiti said.

"We held meetings in Kisoro, Rubanda, Rukiga but there was a bit of scuffle in Kanungu and Kabale about internal conflicts within the party but we are resolving, We had beautiful meetings in Ishaka and the biggest gathering in Kasese. We skipped Rukungiri, Buhweju and Ntungamo districts but we shall come back and traverse the whole country before the 2026 general election as we form new structures to replace the old guards,” he added.

FDC regional governor and ‘mayor’, Stanley Katembeya used Police to disperse a meeting that was invited by the FDC party chairperson Jack Sabiiti on Tuesday. (All Photos by Isaac Nuwagaba)

Katembeya lashes at Sabiiti for betraying Besigye cause

Katembeya said: "I did not expect a veteran politician like Sabiiti to betray Besigye who has been here fighting for the well being of an ordinary citizen when he had been in Parliament eating Museveni’s money for many years as a commissioner".

“We had already informed the Police about the unlawful gathering of FDC masqueraders who elected themselves in office. We are Mbarara FDC leaders but we were not informed here and that’s why we asked them to leave Mbarara in peace,” Katembeya added.

"It is going to be costly for those who auctioned our party to President Yoweri Museveni for personal gains," he threatened.

Scuffle in Bushenyi

On Tuesday, the angry youth also attacked Najjanankumbi leaders who were meeting at Kizinda trading centre in a hidden waragi selling bar organised by one of the FDC supporters in the area, David Kakama.

“The meeting was composed of self-seekers from Rubirizi, Mitooma, Bushenyi, Sheema and Bushenyi districts. We shall fight up to the last drop of our blood,” Justus Guma Gumisiriza said.

These people are ‘more dangerous’ than Museveni saying that FDC is an ideology in people’s hearts, not the location which Sabiiti and his group are using as the most overriding issue.

Kasese Woman MP calls for ceasefire

Hon. Kabugho Florence, Woman MP for Kasese, shared powerful insights motivating FDC leaders saying, "In times of conflict, we don't run away from the house; we stay and resolve the conflicts. We're one family, and together, we'll handle our challenges".

She emphasized the issue of unity, reconciliation, and forgiveness as the only way the party will remain strong in Kasese.      

FDC national leaders from Najjanankumbi party headquarters launched fresh grassroots mobilisation tour in Western Uganda starting with Kigezi sub region before tackling Ankole sub region and the Rwenzori sub-region traversing Kabale district, Kanungu district, Kisoro district, Kasese district, Bushenyi districts since last week facing rejection among the old FDC leadership at district levels