Sacked FDC youth league chairperson sues party

Former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) National Youth League chairperson, Idi Ouma, has dragged the party to court, claiming he was dismissed illegally.

Ouma on Tuesday filed his complaint at the civil division of the High Court in Kampala through Ssemwanga, Muwazi and Company Advocates. He is seeking a declaration that his dismissal as chairperson of the party's youth wing was illegal and against the established party procedures of changing leadership.

Ouma also wants a declaration that FDC did not have powers to appoint, nominate or elect Walid Mulindwa Lubega as the new chairperson.

Ouma seeks for a permanent injunction restraining the Mulindwa from occupying office.

He is also demanding payment for embarrassment and inconveniences.

Duly elected

Ouma asserts he was elected on July 18, 2015, in a poll conducted by the party's electoral commission chairperson Dan Mugarura, and served for three years.

He contends that according to the party constitution, he was elected to serve for a term of five years ending on August 2020, where after fresh elections were to be organised. 

Ouma contends that he was surprised to hear that on November 29, 2018, while at the party headquarters at Najjanankumbi, a meeting was convened in which he was removed from office as the substantive chairperson through a communication by Wasswa Biriggwa the party national chairperson.

"The plaintiff shall contend that he was he was unfairly accused of not attending party meetings and having joined another political group without giving a hearing and this contravened the party youth league constitution," reads part of the plaint.

He further asserts that all the aforementioned accusations were never brought to his attention and he was condemned without giving him an opportunity to be heard, which is in total disregard of Uganda's Constitution as well as the party constitution.

"As a result of the actions of the party, the plaintiff was denied an opportunity to explain his side of the story infringing on his constitutional right to a fair hearing which is made non-derogable under the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda," reads part of the plaint.