FDC party suspends Beti Kamya
Oct 23, 2008
THE Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has suspended three party stalwarts: MPs Beti Kamya, Maracha MP Alex Onzima and erstwhile vice-chairperson Phoebe Otaala, from conducting any party activities or speaking on its behalf.
By Moses Mulondo
THE Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has suspended three party stalwarts: MPs Beti Kamya, Maracha MP Alex Onzima and erstwhile vice-chairperson Phoebe Otaala, from conducting any party activities or speaking on its behalf.
FDC publicist Wafula Oguttu said the decision was made by the Party’s National Executive Committee, which met on Wednesday. Party president Dr. Kizza Besigye chaired the meeting.
Wafula said Kamya was accused of “demobilising the party supporters†in Buganda and making utterances which are not in the interest of the party.
Last week the FDC leaders from Buganda held a meeting which, among other things, recommended that the party top leadership takes disciplinary action against Beti Kamya.
The FDC national executive on Wednesday also resolved that the three be summoned to appear before a newly-constituted disciplinary committee, chaired by the party lawyer, Yusuf Nsibambi.
“We want them to come to our disciplinary court and defend themselves against queries raised against them,†FDC deputy spokesperson Boniface Toterebuka told The New Vision.
Efforts to get a comment from Kamya were futile yesterday, but in an earlier interview with Saturday Vision, she had warned Besigye and other FDC leaders against fighting her, arguing that it would negatively affect the party.
“It is dangerous for FDC leaders to fight me because if I choose to fight back, which I have not yet done, the party has more to lose than to gain. They should instead address the issues I raised. Who cannot see the marginalisation of Buganda in FDC?†She asked.
Kamya’s troubles with the FDC leadership started after she resigned as party envoy early this year, complaining that the leaders were manipulative. She particularly was unhappy that her efforts to replace Dr. Sulaiman Kiggundu, who died early this year, were frustrated by the top party leaders. She argued that the Baganda were marginalised in FDC.
Following her fallout with the party leaders, Kamya has of late flirted with the rival Democratic Party (DP) and recently attended the party’s anniversary celebrations in Jinja, clad in DP colours. This did not go down well with FDC leaders, who described her actions as “provocativeâ€.
The FDC has also had problems conducting grassroots polls in Kampala and Kamya is accused of sabotaging the process.
On Wednesday, the FDC executive also elected Yusuf Nsibambi as the party’s vice-chairman for Buganda region. The position became vacant in March 2006 following the death of Prince Vincent Kimera, who had been elected in the position at the party’s 2005 delegates’ conference.
Wafula said Onzima has been accused of being too close to the ruling National Resistance Movement. On the other hand, Phoebe Otaala, the wife of state minister for health Dr. Emmanuel Otaala, reportedly absconded from her party work shortly after she was elected in 2005 during the FDC Delegates Conference.
THE Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has suspended three party stalwarts: MPs Beti Kamya, Maracha MP Alex Onzima and erstwhile vice-chairperson Phoebe Otaala, from conducting any party activities or speaking on its behalf.
FDC publicist Wafula Oguttu said the decision was made by the Party’s National Executive Committee, which met on Wednesday. Party president Dr. Kizza Besigye chaired the meeting.
Wafula said Kamya was accused of “demobilising the party supporters†in Buganda and making utterances which are not in the interest of the party.
Last week the FDC leaders from Buganda held a meeting which, among other things, recommended that the party top leadership takes disciplinary action against Beti Kamya.
The FDC national executive on Wednesday also resolved that the three be summoned to appear before a newly-constituted disciplinary committee, chaired by the party lawyer, Yusuf Nsibambi.
“We want them to come to our disciplinary court and defend themselves against queries raised against them,†FDC deputy spokesperson Boniface Toterebuka told The New Vision.
Efforts to get a comment from Kamya were futile yesterday, but in an earlier interview with Saturday Vision, she had warned Besigye and other FDC leaders against fighting her, arguing that it would negatively affect the party.
“It is dangerous for FDC leaders to fight me because if I choose to fight back, which I have not yet done, the party has more to lose than to gain. They should instead address the issues I raised. Who cannot see the marginalisation of Buganda in FDC?†She asked.
Kamya’s troubles with the FDC leadership started after she resigned as party envoy early this year, complaining that the leaders were manipulative. She particularly was unhappy that her efforts to replace Dr. Sulaiman Kiggundu, who died early this year, were frustrated by the top party leaders. She argued that the Baganda were marginalised in FDC.
Following her fallout with the party leaders, Kamya has of late flirted with the rival Democratic Party (DP) and recently attended the party’s anniversary celebrations in Jinja, clad in DP colours. This did not go down well with FDC leaders, who described her actions as “provocativeâ€.
The FDC has also had problems conducting grassroots polls in Kampala and Kamya is accused of sabotaging the process.
On Wednesday, the FDC executive also elected Yusuf Nsibambi as the party’s vice-chairman for Buganda region. The position became vacant in March 2006 following the death of Prince Vincent Kimera, who had been elected in the position at the party’s 2005 delegates’ conference.
Wafula said Onzima has been accused of being too close to the ruling National Resistance Movement. On the other hand, Phoebe Otaala, the wife of state minister for health Dr. Emmanuel Otaala, reportedly absconded from her party work shortly after she was elected in 2005 during the FDC Delegates Conference.