FDC abandons walk-to-work campaign
May 30, 2011
THE Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party has abandoned the walk-to-work campaign, saying it had cost lives of Ugandans.
By Henry Sekanjako
THE Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party has abandoned the walk-to-work campaign, saying it had cost lives of Ugandans.
Party spokesperson Wafula Oguttu yesterday told journalists at the FDC headquarters in Najjanankumbi, a Kampala suburb, that they were quitting the campaign to prevent Ugandans from dying as the Police battle the protesters.
“The campaign has led to death of innocent Ugandans. The Government has been so brutal during the protests. So, we thought it wise to quit to save the lives of Ugandans,†he said.
Oguttu noted that over the last one month, young people, especially boda boda riders, had been picked up by unknown people and taken to unspecified places where they are punished.
“As a party, we are reflecting on this campaign. We do not want our people to die. So we are looking at how we can proceed,†Oguttu said.
He added that FDC would continue lobbying for freedom and civil disobedience as a way of promoting peoples’ rights.
However, the coordinator of Activists for Change (A4C), Mathias Mpuuga, said FDC action would not stop them from walking to work. He said it was not an FDC initiative.
“This campaign is not all about FDC. It concerns the whole country. If they (FDC) feel they have achieved their goal, they can abandon it. For us we shall continue,†he said.
The walk-to-work campaign was started by A4C to protest high fuel and commodity prices.
The campaign, which started early in April, has left over five people dead and several injured, including FDC party president Kizza Besigye.
THE Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party has abandoned the walk-to-work campaign, saying it had cost lives of Ugandans.
Party spokesperson Wafula Oguttu yesterday told journalists at the FDC headquarters in Najjanankumbi, a Kampala suburb, that they were quitting the campaign to prevent Ugandans from dying as the Police battle the protesters.
“The campaign has led to death of innocent Ugandans. The Government has been so brutal during the protests. So, we thought it wise to quit to save the lives of Ugandans,†he said.
Oguttu noted that over the last one month, young people, especially boda boda riders, had been picked up by unknown people and taken to unspecified places where they are punished.
“As a party, we are reflecting on this campaign. We do not want our people to die. So we are looking at how we can proceed,†Oguttu said.
He added that FDC would continue lobbying for freedom and civil disobedience as a way of promoting peoples’ rights.
However, the coordinator of Activists for Change (A4C), Mathias Mpuuga, said FDC action would not stop them from walking to work. He said it was not an FDC initiative.
“This campaign is not all about FDC. It concerns the whole country. If they (FDC) feel they have achieved their goal, they can abandon it. For us we shall continue,†he said.
The walk-to-work campaign was started by A4C to protest high fuel and commodity prices.
The campaign, which started early in April, has left over five people dead and several injured, including FDC party president Kizza Besigye.