Muntu to stand against Besigye

Feb 02, 2009

FORMER army commander Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu has declared his intention to contest for the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party presidency.

By Milton Olupot and Moses Mulondo

FORMER army commander Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu has declared his intention to contest for the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party presidency.

This brings to five the number of candidates for the FDC’s top job, although only two have confirmed their plans.

If he does, Muntu would stand against the current and founding party president Col. Kizza Besigye who twice lost to President Yoweri Museveni in 2001 and 2006.

If Muntu wins, he would become the presumptive FDC presidential candidate come the next presidential and parliamentary elections in 2011, a move that could also bury Besigye’s political career.

Muntu, the FDC chief mobiliser, announced his plans on Friday during a steering committee meeting held at the party headquarters in Najjanankumbi, a Kampala suburb.

Muntu will know his new political role within 10 days when the party holds elections at a delegates conference in Kampala from February 11 to 13.

Opposition Chief Whip Kassiano Wadri, the chairman of the committee organising the conference, yesterday confirmed Muntu’s intentions. Muntu was not available to comment on the reports.

However, Wadri insisted the general would stand.“On Friday I received applications from Mugisha Muntu and Abdu Katuntu,” Wadri said. “So we have three candidates so far. Col. Kizza Besigye is still our party president and I am certain he is contesting.” Katuntu belongs to the legal affairs committee of the party.

Another contender is Reagan Okumu, the foreign affairs shadow minister. Former EAC Secretary General Amanya Mushega is also said to be eyeing the seat, although he has not confirmed this. On his part, Okumu yesterday said: “I have said it before that I am going to present myself for the party presidency and I stand by my word.”

Secretary general Alice Alaso said she was content with her position and would vie to retain it. But party spokesman Wafula Ogutu and Wadri are said to be interested in the position.

Wadri, however, yesterday denied the reports. “If I have to announce any intention for any office, I will do it on that day.”

Besigye, speaking at a weekly press briefing yesterday, said the party provides for two terms for a person to lead as party president. Besigye has served one term.

“No one can cling on the leadership of FDC because ours is not like the NRM (the ruling party). We promise Ugandans that when we get to power, we shall restore the two-term limit for the presidency,” he said.

Besigye dismissed allegations of factions in the party over party positions. “There is internal democracy in FDC. All positions in the party including that of party president will be contested for,” Besigye told journalists yesterday at the party headquarters.

He also denied claims that he was clinging on the leadership of the party. “I don’t have any gun or money that I use to influence the FDC members to vote for me as the leader,” Besigye said.

FDC, Besigye noted, was the most prepared party for the 2011 elections. “Having grassroots structures for a party is a major determinant of its strength. That is why we are now ahead of all parties,” he elaborated.

Wrangles over positions have rocked the FDC lately. Former party envoy and Rubaga North MP Beti Kamya accused the party of sidelining Baganda. She wanted to replace former party chairman Sulaiman Kiggundu but the party appointed John Butime in acting capacity. Nabilah Ssempala, the woman MP for Kampala Central, recently protested when she lost local party elections.

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