Besigye, Muntu campaign hots up
Feb 11, 2009
THE FIGHT for the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) top job yesterday intensified, with the two contenders for the party presidency stepping up campaigns.
By Cyprian Musoke
and Moses Mulondo
THE FIGHT for the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) top job yesterday intensified, with the two contenders for the party presidency stepping up campaigns.
Security at the party’s headquarters in Najjanankumbi was tight with several armed Police on guard.
As delegates arrived, each received a letter signed by incumbent Col. Kizza Besigye, urging them to vote for him.
The 800-odd delegates comprise party leaders at the districts and constituencies, the women and youth leagues, the national executive committee and MPs belonging to the party.
Besigye met delegates at his office and tried to convince them of his ability to lead the party for the next five years, his last term in office.
Sources said Besigye had initially not taken his challenger Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu serious, but was taken aback when the retired general went on a campaign offensive last week, granting media interviews. Besigye responded by holding about three radio talk-shows per day.
Muntu, who arrived later in the afternoon, met the delegates in a tent erected for the registration. He shook their hands and asked them to vote him.
He pitched camp at the party offices in kakuyege (face-to-face campaigning).
Earlier, former youth chairman Ibrahim Kasozi campaigned for Muntu. Most party bigwigs have not openly expressed support either way.
The two will face the electorate at Namboole Stadium tomorrow. Other party positions will also be filled.
Delegates from Teso region appeared to favour Besigye whom they said was capable of defeating President Yoweri Museveni.
“I support Dr. Besigye, although they (Besigye and Muntu) are both capable of leading the party,†said Kasilo MP Elijah Okupa. He said Besigye is more aggressive and courageous.
“We can vote for Muntu another time, but not now,†said Kaberamaido Woman MP Ibi Florence Ekwau.
“Our constitution allows him to stand for the presidency for two terms, but Besigye has not served two terms,†said Ekwau.
Acting FDC electoral commission chairman Dan Mugarura said the Uganda Electoral Commission had given them voting materials for the secret ballot.
“We shall have a roll-call. Immediately after polling we shall count the votes. For those who shall tie we will repeat the voting,†he said.
There was a flurry of activity as hundreds of up-country delegates got accreditation for the delegates’ conference which kicks off today.
Candidates spent the day campaigning fervently.
Opposition chief whip Kassiano Wadri wants to retain his position of deputy secretary general for administration.
Sarah Eperu and Wafula Oguttu, are contenders for the post of publicity secretary. Wafula had originally wanted the post of secretary general.
Meanwhile, Buganda leaders have agreed to back Obeid Kamulegeya for the post of party chairman to replace the late Dr. Sulaiman Kiggundu. Kamulegeya said: “I want to bring harmony and dispel the allegation that Buganda is marginalised.â€
The Buganda group also supported Joyce Ssebugwawo to stand for the position of vice-chairperson for Buganda, and John Kikonyogo for deputy mobilisation secretary.
Rubaga North MP Beti Kamya accused the party of sidelining Baganda when the party rejected her bid to replace Kiggundu. Kamya had threatened to block the conference, but she has kept a low profile.
Kamulegeya said his election would ensure the seat reverts back to Buganda.
Despite this, organising committee chairman Kassiano Wadri said party leaders were persuading Njuba to stand for party chairman “for purposes of regional balanceâ€
Meanwhile, the High Court yesterday threw out a petition by a party member to stop the conference after the petitioner, Masaka District FDC chairman Ibrahim Nsamba failed to turn up at the court in Nakawa.
Nsamba wanted the court to suspend the conference until delegates “are elected from each district at village executive committee level throughout the countryâ€.
However, Alaso said the delegates were elected from the grassroots between August 2008 and February 2009. She also charged that the list of the petitioners was fictitious and that Nsamba was not a member of the Masaka District conference.
In his ruling, Justice Murangira said Nsamba had not attached his FDC membership card to prove that he is not a masquerader out to disrupt the party function and ordered him to pay the costs of the suit.
and Moses Mulondo
THE FIGHT for the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) top job yesterday intensified, with the two contenders for the party presidency stepping up campaigns.
Security at the party’s headquarters in Najjanankumbi was tight with several armed Police on guard.
As delegates arrived, each received a letter signed by incumbent Col. Kizza Besigye, urging them to vote for him.
The 800-odd delegates comprise party leaders at the districts and constituencies, the women and youth leagues, the national executive committee and MPs belonging to the party.
Besigye met delegates at his office and tried to convince them of his ability to lead the party for the next five years, his last term in office.
Sources said Besigye had initially not taken his challenger Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu serious, but was taken aback when the retired general went on a campaign offensive last week, granting media interviews. Besigye responded by holding about three radio talk-shows per day.
Muntu, who arrived later in the afternoon, met the delegates in a tent erected for the registration. He shook their hands and asked them to vote him.
He pitched camp at the party offices in kakuyege (face-to-face campaigning).
Earlier, former youth chairman Ibrahim Kasozi campaigned for Muntu. Most party bigwigs have not openly expressed support either way.
The two will face the electorate at Namboole Stadium tomorrow. Other party positions will also be filled.
Delegates from Teso region appeared to favour Besigye whom they said was capable of defeating President Yoweri Museveni.
“I support Dr. Besigye, although they (Besigye and Muntu) are both capable of leading the party,†said Kasilo MP Elijah Okupa. He said Besigye is more aggressive and courageous.
“We can vote for Muntu another time, but not now,†said Kaberamaido Woman MP Ibi Florence Ekwau.
“Our constitution allows him to stand for the presidency for two terms, but Besigye has not served two terms,†said Ekwau.
Acting FDC electoral commission chairman Dan Mugarura said the Uganda Electoral Commission had given them voting materials for the secret ballot.
“We shall have a roll-call. Immediately after polling we shall count the votes. For those who shall tie we will repeat the voting,†he said.
There was a flurry of activity as hundreds of up-country delegates got accreditation for the delegates’ conference which kicks off today.
Candidates spent the day campaigning fervently.
Opposition chief whip Kassiano Wadri wants to retain his position of deputy secretary general for administration.
Sarah Eperu and Wafula Oguttu, are contenders for the post of publicity secretary. Wafula had originally wanted the post of secretary general.
Meanwhile, Buganda leaders have agreed to back Obeid Kamulegeya for the post of party chairman to replace the late Dr. Sulaiman Kiggundu. Kamulegeya said: “I want to bring harmony and dispel the allegation that Buganda is marginalised.â€
The Buganda group also supported Joyce Ssebugwawo to stand for the position of vice-chairperson for Buganda, and John Kikonyogo for deputy mobilisation secretary.
Rubaga North MP Beti Kamya accused the party of sidelining Baganda when the party rejected her bid to replace Kiggundu. Kamya had threatened to block the conference, but she has kept a low profile.
Kamulegeya said his election would ensure the seat reverts back to Buganda.
Despite this, organising committee chairman Kassiano Wadri said party leaders were persuading Njuba to stand for party chairman “for purposes of regional balanceâ€
Meanwhile, the High Court yesterday threw out a petition by a party member to stop the conference after the petitioner, Masaka District FDC chairman Ibrahim Nsamba failed to turn up at the court in Nakawa.
Nsamba wanted the court to suspend the conference until delegates “are elected from each district at village executive committee level throughout the countryâ€.
However, Alaso said the delegates were elected from the grassroots between August 2008 and February 2009. She also charged that the list of the petitioners was fictitious and that Nsamba was not a member of the Masaka District conference.
In his ruling, Justice Murangira said Nsamba had not attached his FDC membership card to prove that he is not a masquerader out to disrupt the party function and ordered him to pay the costs of the suit.