FDC senior officials clash over Besigye's sole candidature

POLITICS|ELECTIONS

The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party spokesperson, Ibrahim Semujju Nganda has refuted allegations that Col Dr. Kizza Besigye has already pronounced as unopposed party presidential flag-bearer.

Semujju stresses that the remarks by the party president, Patrick Amuriat Oboi, are misleading and are his own opinion but not the party.

This follows Amuriat's remarks that Besigye will not be contested if he considers himself for the party ticket in 2021.

He (Amuriat) said though the party has set nomination dates to pick presidential flag-bearer, the party executive committee has already determined that the process will only happen if Dr. Besigye is no longer interested in the contest  to end president Yoweri Museveni's rule in the next election.

But Semujju has deferred with his boss saying the party process must be respected as per the party constitution. 

Addressing journalists at the party's weekly press briefing at the party head offices in Najjanankumbi, a Kampala suburb yesterday, Semujju described Amuriat's statements as his own wishes and opinion.

He said Amuriat's position is not the party's position, a reason why the party National Executive Committee (NEC) set dates for the nomination of the party presidential flag-bearer.

In his remarks Amuriat further said: "Should Besigye offer himself, then there will be no election because that is the position agreed upon by the top executive. But should he (Besigye) decide that he is not going to run, then there will be other candidates for the FDC presidential flag bearer."

"I believe those are Amuriat's wishes and he might want Besigye like many of us, but the party process must be followed. If he offers himself to run, he will be subjected to the process," Semujju said.

"I think Amuriat just wants to discourage others with intentions to run for the same position, which is ok because it is like a campaign," he added.

When asked whether he was not contradicting his boss, Semujju said Amuriat's opinion can be contradicted, because the party has a constitution.

He emphasized that the party's NEC has not made such a pronouncement on Besigye.

He said NEC sitting on August 7th, set August 18th and 19th as the dates on which members intending to contest for president can pick forms and return them to the party headquarters on August 25th and 26th.

"We urge members with interest to read the constitution and know whether you qualify or not. You must be a member of the party with a card among others," he added.

He said the date and nature of the delegates conference to select the best candidate will be set by NEC.

The party EC boss, Toterubuka Bamwenda said the process is very clear and it must be followed.

"Our party is democratic and transparent. The process of picking presidential flag-bearer and others is very clear. We shall not handpick like some parties who do want to give a chance to other party members," he said.

Bamwenda noted that Besigye can only be declared unopposed if he goes through the process to pick forms and nobody else challenges him.

"In FDC we have many capable people who can take on the mantle. We also need to groom other people to test this process whether they go through or not. That is why some parties find it hard to replace some leaders because they have injured their in house processes," he added.