FDC supporters attack Muntu over Nandala Mafabi

By David Oduut

FORUM for Democratic Change (FDC) party supporters in Mbale attacked their party leader Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu accusing him of weakening the party.

Muntu was in Mbale on one of his national mobilization tours to popularize FDC and set party structures ahead of 2016 general elections.

The FDC leader’s two day visit in the entire Bugisu region however was not graced by any party strongmen like members of parliament, including Nandala Mafabi who recently contested against him for presidency.

Party mobilizers led by Edward Wambede told Muntu that by clashing with Nandala who is revered for being the chairperson Bugisu Cooperative Union, he has made FDC seriously lose support in not only Mbale but the entire Bugisu region.

“Unless you call Nandala and reconcile before us, we as the chief mobilizers of the party have lost hope in this party,” Wambede roared.

Wambede was speaking in a sparsely attended party meeting held on Wednesday at Green Gardens Hotel, Mbale.

He said by Muntu touring Mbale without any of the region’s party legislators is a sign that he does not work together with the national representatives of Bugisu.

Suleiman Wodege a youth leader- Nabuyonga Ward in Mbale accused Muntu of ‘encouraging divide and rule politics in the party’.

“Muntu now leads a team that mostly crossed with him from NRM, it may be a trick for them to hold onto power pakalast,” Wodege said.

He added that under Muntu, FDC has totally failed to protect party supporters in times of political activism rendering them victims of ridicule on the streets.

However, Muntu in his speech said FDC supporters in Elgon should know him as the current president of FDC.

“You people of Mbale are very unfair to me; do you want me to go purchase a gun, for Nandala to come to Mbale together with me?” Muntu asked.

He said his efforts to work with Nandala Mafabi have hit a snag saying their ideas have not fully rhymed.

“Changing him is one thing, working with him is another.”

Muntu said the decision to remove Nandala from being Leader of Opposition in Parliament was a duty reserved to him as the party president where he is mandated to hold reshuffles.

Bugisu region has not been happy hunting ground for Maj. General Mugisha Muntu since 2012 when he was elected FDC president a head of Mafabi, the Budadiri West Member of Parliament and former Leader of Opposition.