FDC sets new dates for Kampala Lord Mayor nomination

ELECTION WATCH

The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) leading opposition party has set new dates for the nomination of the Kampala Lord Mayor flag bearer.

The party spokesperson, Ibrahim Semujju Nganda, said the duration also applies for the newly created cities, municipalities and any other electoral areas where no member picked nomination forms during the first window.

He said this is also aimed at giving a chance to those who never made it on time to participate in the process.

Last month, the party electoral commission, rejected the nomination papers for the Kampala mayoral seat, of the Kampala Woman MP, Nabila Nagayi, on grounds that she returned the forms after the deadline.

"All those who missed and those who arrived late for nominations have another chance and enough time. We do not expect any complaints," he noted.

The process is to run from August 10^th to 20^th.

The party has also advised all its party district and lower branches to begin processing nomination forms for the successful candidates ahead of the local government nominations.

Semujju said nomination papers for all MPs, LCV Chairpersons, City and Municipality mayors will be signed by the Secretary-General, while the candidates for lower positions (councilors and LC III chairpersons) will be signed by leaders whose names have been submitted to the electoral commissions.

"We ask the leaders to follow the process. Avoid handpicking candidates, under the guise of COVID-19 restrictions. The FDC constitution must be strictly observed. Where there is a disagreement, we can have a reconciliation mediated by our elders and senior leaders," he noted.

He said the party has already started a reconciliation process in the hotly contested after primaries.

"The party National Executive Committee (NEC) has assigned and sent delegations of senior party leaders to districts to reconcile members who got disagreements after primaries in different parts of the country," he noted.

The delegation includes; Salam Musumba (vice-chairperson Eastern Region), Francis Mwijukye and Semujju Nganda for Kasese.

The party president Patrick Amuriat Oboi and the national party chairman Ambassador Wasswa Biriggwa were assigned to the Acholi sub-region.

Reject EC guidelines

The party also assigned a team of lawyers to study the Electoral Commission (EC) new campaign guidelines.

"These guidelines are unconstitutional. We have set up a team to study these guidelines and inform the party on the next step. But we have rejected them and ready to defy because these guidelines are only meant to frustrate the opposition candidates. How do you expect to select candidates without holding primaries in the first place," he said.

He cited guideline number one that maintains a ban on public meetings, conferences, and political rallies, wondering how their party and others will elect the presidential candidates when they are not allowed to convene delegates conferences. 

"Our presidential candidates have to meet district leaders during the campaign. Our delegates have to convene for a delegates conference to vote for the best candidate. Failure to do this will be violating the party constitution?" he added.

Semujju further noted that the requirement that candidates must sanitize and spray places, tables, and surfaces where they intend to host meetings is extremely expensive, which is not applicable.

"Who is sanitizing markets and downtown areas where there is congestion? The whole country is not putting on masks. Why must they be mandatory only during campaign meetings? Why doesn't the same apply to NRM candidates who hold massive meetings?" he wondered.

"If COVID-19 is very serious as Justice Simon Byakagaba wants to portray, why didn't he postpone elections?" he asked.