FDC registration set for December
Nov 11, 2004
THE Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) will be registered as a political party next month, state minister for information Dr. Nsaba Buturo said yesterday.
By Hamis Kaheru
THE Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) will be registered as a political party next month, state minister for information Dr. Nsaba Buturo said yesterday.
He said the Registrar General had visited 20 districts to verify the information FDC and other groups submitted with the applications for registration.
“If things go according to plan, the process of gazetting these groups will start next week. So you are looking at December, because gazetting takes 30 days,†the minister said on phone.
The law requires that an application to register a political party be accompanied by a list of names and addresses of at least 50 members from at least one third of the 54 districts. Buturo said after the groups have been gazetted, the public would have 30 days to raise any objections to the Registrar General concerning the applications.
The Registrar General is empowered to carry out independent inquiries to ascertain the truth and correctness before issuing a certificate of registration.
FDC submitted its application in September but the Registrar General could not gazette it within 30 days as required by law, because of lack of funds.
“Parliament approved the budget so money is now available,†Buturo said.
Earlier, FDC accused the Government of frustrating it for fear of competition. The group resolved that if funds were hindering their party’s registration, the members would give the Registrar General money to verify their papers.
FDC, led by former army commander Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu later took a bag of coins amounting sh100,000 but the justice ministry rejected it.
The team included MPs Salaamu Musumba (Bugabula South), Jack Sabiiti (Rukiga), Dr. Sam Epetait (Ngora), Reagan Okumu (Aswa), Elijah Okupa (Kasilo) and Harry Kasigwa (Jinja Municipality West). On Monday, FDC announced a campaign team for the central region, to explain the party’s ideology.
FDC’s interim mobilisation committee chief Christopher Kibazanga said the first phase of the mobilisation strategy would cover Kampala, Wakiso, Mpigi and Mukono. The Meetings start tomorrow. Buturo said mobilisation was not illegal but called on FDC to be patient until registration was completed.
Ends
THE Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) will be registered as a political party next month, state minister for information Dr. Nsaba Buturo said yesterday.
He said the Registrar General had visited 20 districts to verify the information FDC and other groups submitted with the applications for registration.
“If things go according to plan, the process of gazetting these groups will start next week. So you are looking at December, because gazetting takes 30 days,†the minister said on phone.
The law requires that an application to register a political party be accompanied by a list of names and addresses of at least 50 members from at least one third of the 54 districts. Buturo said after the groups have been gazetted, the public would have 30 days to raise any objections to the Registrar General concerning the applications.
The Registrar General is empowered to carry out independent inquiries to ascertain the truth and correctness before issuing a certificate of registration.
FDC submitted its application in September but the Registrar General could not gazette it within 30 days as required by law, because of lack of funds.
“Parliament approved the budget so money is now available,†Buturo said.
Earlier, FDC accused the Government of frustrating it for fear of competition. The group resolved that if funds were hindering their party’s registration, the members would give the Registrar General money to verify their papers.
FDC, led by former army commander Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu later took a bag of coins amounting sh100,000 but the justice ministry rejected it.
The team included MPs Salaamu Musumba (Bugabula South), Jack Sabiiti (Rukiga), Dr. Sam Epetait (Ngora), Reagan Okumu (Aswa), Elijah Okupa (Kasilo) and Harry Kasigwa (Jinja Municipality West). On Monday, FDC announced a campaign team for the central region, to explain the party’s ideology.
FDC’s interim mobilisation committee chief Christopher Kibazanga said the first phase of the mobilisation strategy would cover Kampala, Wakiso, Mpigi and Mukono. The Meetings start tomorrow. Buturo said mobilisation was not illegal but called on FDC to be patient until registration was completed.
Ends