FDC boots Kamya over divisionism
Feb 09, 2009
THE Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) tribunal has convicted Rubaga North MP Beti Kamya and suspended her for six months. The ruling implies that Kamya will not be allowed to attend and participate in the three-day FDC’s national delegates’ conference
By Moses Mulondo
THE Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) tribunal has convicted Rubaga North MP Beti Kamya and suspended her for six months.
The ruling implies that Kamya will not be allowed to attend and participate in the three-day FDC’s national delegates’ conference, which starts tomorrow. She cannot also vie for any FDC leadership position.
Reading the tribunal’s ruling at a press conference yesterday, FDC spokesman Wafula Oguttu, said Kamya was convicted of five charges.
He listed them as creating divisions in the party based on ethnicity, prejudicing the integrity of the party, disrupting its activities, undermining the disciplinary committee and provocative behaviour.
The tribunal, chaired by vice-chairman for Buganda Yusuf Nsibambi, made its ruling yesterday. Kamya reportedly did not attend the meeting.
“We invited Kamya for the final ruling of the committee, but as usual, she refused to come,†said Mukalazi Kibuuka, a tribunal member.
Kamya was also banned from making any communication on behalf of the party, even in Parliament.
“She will only be speaking on behalf of her constituency,†Mukalazi added.
The tribunal said the party would in the six months observe Kamya’s behaviour and see whether she reforms.
Asked for a comment on the ruling, Kamya said: “I have not yet got the communication from the party. I will make comments after receiving and reading their ruling.â€
Kamya’s co-accused, John Kikonyogo, the party deputy mobilisation chief, was two weeks ago acquitted of similar charges after being cautioned.
Kamya fell out with her party last July after she was not elected national chairman to replace the late Dr. Sulaiman Kiggundu.
She argued that the decision contravened the party constitution and showed discrimination against the Baganda, her tribe, within the party.
The party appointed the vice-chairperson, John Butime, as acting chairman.
Since Kamya resigned, there have been exchanges in the media between her and the FDC leaders.
At one time she told Sunday Vision that FDC was worse than the NRM party when confronted with divergent views.
There have also been allegations that some FDC officials plotted to murder her. The leadership of FDC has denied the allegations.
During the last FDC delegates conference in October 2005, Kamya caused a controversy when she was not elected to the position of the secretary general which went to Alice Alaso.
Kamya protested Alaso’s election, prompting FDC president Dr. Kizza Besigye to appoint her an envoy in his office.
Meanwhile, preparations for the party’s second delegates’ conference, which starts tomorrow, are in high gear, Oguttu said.
The theme for this year’s meeting focuses on the restoration of national values, said Oguttu.
Top on agenda will be the election of national party leaders, amending the party constitution and the holding of a public dialogue on a number of issues. Intending candidates can pick nomination papers tomorrow, Oguttu added.
He added that only Col. Kizza Besigye and Major General Mugisha Muntu had expressed interest for the post of party president.
Besigye, the founding president, wants a final term. Earlier reports indicated that Reagan Okumu, Abdu Katuntu and Amanya Mushega were also interested in the job. But Oguttu said they would not stand.
Asked about his candidature yesterday, Muntu said since independence, Ugandans had not seen people compete for power as comrades.
“My contest will see a democratic competition devoid of abuses and counter-accusations,†he said. “It will open a new chapter in our politics.â€
Wafula said the party had raised sh150m of the sh250m needed for the meeting. “We shall ask delegates to meet costs like transportation and accommodation,†he said.
He warned of a plot to sabotage the conference.
THE Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) tribunal has convicted Rubaga North MP Beti Kamya and suspended her for six months.
The ruling implies that Kamya will not be allowed to attend and participate in the three-day FDC’s national delegates’ conference, which starts tomorrow. She cannot also vie for any FDC leadership position.
Reading the tribunal’s ruling at a press conference yesterday, FDC spokesman Wafula Oguttu, said Kamya was convicted of five charges.
He listed them as creating divisions in the party based on ethnicity, prejudicing the integrity of the party, disrupting its activities, undermining the disciplinary committee and provocative behaviour.
The tribunal, chaired by vice-chairman for Buganda Yusuf Nsibambi, made its ruling yesterday. Kamya reportedly did not attend the meeting.
“We invited Kamya for the final ruling of the committee, but as usual, she refused to come,†said Mukalazi Kibuuka, a tribunal member.
Kamya was also banned from making any communication on behalf of the party, even in Parliament.
“She will only be speaking on behalf of her constituency,†Mukalazi added.
The tribunal said the party would in the six months observe Kamya’s behaviour and see whether she reforms.
Asked for a comment on the ruling, Kamya said: “I have not yet got the communication from the party. I will make comments after receiving and reading their ruling.â€
Kamya’s co-accused, John Kikonyogo, the party deputy mobilisation chief, was two weeks ago acquitted of similar charges after being cautioned.
Kamya fell out with her party last July after she was not elected national chairman to replace the late Dr. Sulaiman Kiggundu.
She argued that the decision contravened the party constitution and showed discrimination against the Baganda, her tribe, within the party.
The party appointed the vice-chairperson, John Butime, as acting chairman.
Since Kamya resigned, there have been exchanges in the media between her and the FDC leaders.
At one time she told Sunday Vision that FDC was worse than the NRM party when confronted with divergent views.
There have also been allegations that some FDC officials plotted to murder her. The leadership of FDC has denied the allegations.
During the last FDC delegates conference in October 2005, Kamya caused a controversy when she was not elected to the position of the secretary general which went to Alice Alaso.
Kamya protested Alaso’s election, prompting FDC president Dr. Kizza Besigye to appoint her an envoy in his office.
Meanwhile, preparations for the party’s second delegates’ conference, which starts tomorrow, are in high gear, Oguttu said.
The theme for this year’s meeting focuses on the restoration of national values, said Oguttu.
Top on agenda will be the election of national party leaders, amending the party constitution and the holding of a public dialogue on a number of issues. Intending candidates can pick nomination papers tomorrow, Oguttu added.
He added that only Col. Kizza Besigye and Major General Mugisha Muntu had expressed interest for the post of party president.
Besigye, the founding president, wants a final term. Earlier reports indicated that Reagan Okumu, Abdu Katuntu and Amanya Mushega were also interested in the job. But Oguttu said they would not stand.
Asked about his candidature yesterday, Muntu said since independence, Ugandans had not seen people compete for power as comrades.
“My contest will see a democratic competition devoid of abuses and counter-accusations,†he said. “It will open a new chapter in our politics.â€
Wafula said the party had raised sh150m of the sh250m needed for the meeting. “We shall ask delegates to meet costs like transportation and accommodation,†he said.
He warned of a plot to sabotage the conference.