FDC elects opposition leader today
May 21, 2011
THE Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) will today at 9:00am converge at Najjanankumbi to elect the Leader of Opposition of the 9th Parliament.
By John Semakula
THE Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) will today at 9:00am converge at Najjanankumbi to elect the Leader of Opposition of the 9th Parliament.
Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, the MP for Kyadondo East, told Saturday Vision on Friday that although the opposition leader would come from FDC, they would consider views of other parties.
“I am aware there are consultations going on between the FDC leadership and leaders of other opposition parties ahead of the meeting,†Ssemujju said.
According to the Constitution, the Leader of the Opposition comes from the opposition party with the biggest number of legislators in the House. FDC has 34, DP 11, UPC nine, while the Conservative Party and JEEMA each have one MP.
The Leader of the Opposition in the 8th Parliament, Morris Ogenga Latigo, was not re-elected. The qualifications of the MP who is elected Leader of the Opposition must match those of a senior minister.
Whereas FDC officials could not disclose the likely candidates, reliable sources told Saturday Vision that party members had been fronting Alice Alaso (Serere Woman MP), Jack Sabiiti (Rukiga county), Nandala Mafabi (Budadiri West), Abdu Katuntu (Bugweri County), Cecilia Ogwal (Dokolo Woman MP) and Kasiano Wadri (Terego County).
Sabiiti on Thursday expressed interest in the seat, saying since the party president Col. Kizza Besigye and national chairman Sam Njuba were not in Parliament, the choice should be between him and Alaso. Sabiiti is the general treasurer, while Alaso is secretary general of the FDC.
During the 8th Parliament, FDC found it easy to choose the opposition leader, because the party had performed best in the north, beating the NRM in that region. Latigo was therefore chosen.
This time round, the party did not win in any of the regions and the issue of rewarding a particular region might not arise.
Nandala, who has fronted himself as a firebrand, mover and shaker in Uganda’s politics, competed for the post of the Speaker on Thursday and lost to Rebecca Kadaga of the NRM.
The other contenders, Katuntu, Kasiano and Ogwal, are also outstanding opposition figures, whose participation in the race will make it a tight one.
Katuntu is a senior city lawyer who has proved himself a force to reckon with, having floored the minister of national guidance and deputy premier, Kirunda Kivejinja, twice in the parliamentary race.
On the other hand, Kasiano has been one of the opposition firebrands in the 8th Parliament while Ogwal, who recently crossed over to FDC from UPC, has been a member of the opposition for a number of years, possibly longer than any of the other persons.
THE Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) will today at 9:00am converge at Najjanankumbi to elect the Leader of Opposition of the 9th Parliament.
Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, the MP for Kyadondo East, told Saturday Vision on Friday that although the opposition leader would come from FDC, they would consider views of other parties.
“I am aware there are consultations going on between the FDC leadership and leaders of other opposition parties ahead of the meeting,†Ssemujju said.
According to the Constitution, the Leader of the Opposition comes from the opposition party with the biggest number of legislators in the House. FDC has 34, DP 11, UPC nine, while the Conservative Party and JEEMA each have one MP.
The Leader of the Opposition in the 8th Parliament, Morris Ogenga Latigo, was not re-elected. The qualifications of the MP who is elected Leader of the Opposition must match those of a senior minister.
Whereas FDC officials could not disclose the likely candidates, reliable sources told Saturday Vision that party members had been fronting Alice Alaso (Serere Woman MP), Jack Sabiiti (Rukiga county), Nandala Mafabi (Budadiri West), Abdu Katuntu (Bugweri County), Cecilia Ogwal (Dokolo Woman MP) and Kasiano Wadri (Terego County).
Sabiiti on Thursday expressed interest in the seat, saying since the party president Col. Kizza Besigye and national chairman Sam Njuba were not in Parliament, the choice should be between him and Alaso. Sabiiti is the general treasurer, while Alaso is secretary general of the FDC.
During the 8th Parliament, FDC found it easy to choose the opposition leader, because the party had performed best in the north, beating the NRM in that region. Latigo was therefore chosen.
This time round, the party did not win in any of the regions and the issue of rewarding a particular region might not arise.
Nandala, who has fronted himself as a firebrand, mover and shaker in Uganda’s politics, competed for the post of the Speaker on Thursday and lost to Rebecca Kadaga of the NRM.
The other contenders, Katuntu, Kasiano and Ogwal, are also outstanding opposition figures, whose participation in the race will make it a tight one.
Katuntu is a senior city lawyer who has proved himself a force to reckon with, having floored the minister of national guidance and deputy premier, Kirunda Kivejinja, twice in the parliamentary race.
On the other hand, Kasiano has been one of the opposition firebrands in the 8th Parliament while Ogwal, who recently crossed over to FDC from UPC, has been a member of the opposition for a number of years, possibly longer than any of the other persons.