Muntu to probe alleged FDC malpractices

By Brian Mayanja

In a bid to reconcile its members, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party has said it will set up a committee to probe alleged election malpractices.

According to a source, party president Maj. Gen Mugisha Muntu and other senior party members did not substantially discuss the matter at length in a recent meeting at Najjanakumbi, after the party’s presidential polls, due to the presence of a delegation from the UK’s Conservative Party.

Muntu’s campaign manager Francis Epatait, who is also the Ngora County MP, confirmed that the party president raised the matter during the meeting.

“Muntu needs everyone on board. He will talk to members who feel uncomfortable with the way the polls and the campaigns were conducted, to get the truth and reconcile them,” Epatait said.

Rukiga County MP Jack Sabiiti, who is also FDC’s treasurer, said they resolved that each camp should have a representative on the committee.

“The committee will be headed by the party president. It shall present its report to NEC members,” he said.

The move to reconcile disgruntled party members comes at a time when some senior party members like Sabiiti and Sarah Eperu are pushing for the resignation of Alice Alaso, the secretary general and Dan Mugararu, the party’s electoral commission boss, over alleged elections malpractices in the recent polls.

They also want the electoral commission disbanded. Sabiiti said they agreed that the electoral commission should be a fully-fledged office.

“Apparently, the commission is under the office of the secretary general. I think that is why there were anomalies in all elections,” Sabiiti said. Eperu alleges that Alaso contravened the party’s constitution by taking sides in the elections.

“Our constitution bars the president, secretary general and spokesperson from openly campaigning for particular candidates during an internal election,’’ she said.

‘‘After the nomination of the candidates, we advised the secretary general to step aside, but she refused. During the polls, she interfered with the voting process by blocking some delegates from participating. I have evidence and I will prove my case before the tribunal,” Eperu explained.

Efforts to get Alaso’s comment were futile as she is reportedly sick. Epatait, however, defended Alaso, saying: “The president cannot force Alaso to resign. It should be a personal decision. Even then, her term of office is still running.”

Some disgruntled FDC members are also accusing Dan Mugarura, the electoral commission boss, of failing to address their petitions within four days after the polls as per their constitution.

Mugarura advised them to forward their grievances to the party’s election tribunal, which is headed by Yusuf Nsibambi, the party’s vice-president for the Central region.

“I presided over a free and fair election by international standards. Why didn’t they raise their issues when we were still at Namboole?” Mugarura asked.

When contacted, Nsibambi said the tribunal had not received any complaint.