We have no alliance with people power — FDC

POLITICS 

KAMPALA- The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has said it has not entered into alliance with any pressure group, including People Power.

The party warned its party flag-bearers against working with pressure groups.

FDC electoral commission chief Boniface Toterebuka Bamwenda said all flagbearers must respect the party principles and decisions.

"Once we give you our flag, you must respect the party rules and regulations. Everything must be decided by the party's top organ. We have structures, which must be respected," he said.

Bamwenda made the remarks during an interview with New Vision at the party head office in Najjanankumbi, Kampala recently.

He said the party is in discussion with other political actors before making a move.

"As FDC, we have not gone into any coalition with any group. This is an independent party with values, which must be upheld. This time, we are looking at our flag. Different political groups have different objectives," Bamwenda added.

He said candidates who flout party rules and regulations will be summoned and appropriate action taken.

Last year, several opposition parties, led by the Democratic Party (DP) formed a coalition called the DP-Bloc.

The move was aimed at convincing all opposition players to front one presidential candidate and joint candidates in every constituency, which has not been fruitful to date.

In a related development, People Power leader Robert Kyagulanyi surprised other opposition parties when he unveiled his party, the National Unity Party (NUP).

He was also unveiled as the NUP presidential flag-bearer. Since then it has emerged that NUP held a delegates conference this month at a hotel in Wakiso district and Kyagulanyi was elected party president.

Flag-bearer nominations

Addressing journalists in Najjanankumbi recently, Ssemujju said the party was in the process of identifying a presidential flag-bearer.

He said the nominations for the presidential flag-bearer had been postponed from the end of this month, to August 3-4, due to the Idd Adhuha.

It is uncertain whether former FDC president presidential flag-bearer Col. (rtd) Dr Kizza Besigye will run again.

Besigye was on the same day expected to be the guest speaker at a ceremony organised by FDC to unveil its "party electoral platform 2021 - 2026" at Najjanankumbi.

According to the party roadmap, the election of the party's presidential flag-bearer will be done during the national delegates conference scheduled for September 4.