Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) supporters in Hoima have urged Gen. Mugisha Muntu, the former FDC president, to break away from FDC and form his own party.
This was during a consultative meeting the bush war hero held in Hoima town today (Monday).
Gen Muntu’s sympathizers told him they have overstayed in the Opposition and wanted a new political force to come forward and mull strategies of capturing power from the ruling NRM.
“Political parties are not religions. If FDC is not helping us to capture power, it is high time we formed our own political party,”Godfrey Kamukama, a resident of Hoima, told Muntu at the meeting held at Hoima Resort Hotel.
Another Muntu supporter attacked Dr. Kizza Besigye, the former FDC leader of almost behaving like President Yoweri Museveni.
“He wants to overshadow other potential leaders. He should leave others to come up,” Robert Kwesiga argued.
To their surprise, Muntu did not respond to their demand but instead told them that he was conducting nationwide consultative meetings with a major aim of finding solutions to the problems affecting Uganda.
Gen Muntu lost the FDC top office to Patrick Amuriat in November last year.
Soon after the devastating loss that threatened to tear apart the strongest Opposition party, Muntu announced he was to conduct several consultative meetings.
“We shall go back to what we were doing before the elections, to build structures so that we empower Ugandans,” Muntu said after the shock defeat last year.
PML Daily has learnt that Muntu and some MPs arrived in Hoima yesterday on Sunday and preparing to conduct the meeting in Hoima town.
The first national consultative meeting was attended by both the opposition and progressive members of NRM party.
“We also had leaders from civil society organisations, farmers and businessmen. What is happening in Uganda, affects every body. Therefore, we are going to engage Ugandans on the forward,” IbrahimKasozi, Makidye East MP revealed.
The FDC leadership however disagrees with the meetings.
In a letter dated January 10, FDC secretary general Nandala Mafabi wrote to FDC district leaders warning them against convening meetings or activites which have not been approved by the party headquarters.
“This is to inform you that anyone from headquarters or anywhere who intends to carry out an activity in your district in the name of the party should demonstrate that the activity was discussed and approved by the party NEC,” Mafabi stated.
Mafabi, however, urged the districts to support Amuriat, to meet his targets he set to achieve in his first 100 days.
“All the activities of the party will be communicated to you by my office,” Mafabi added.
At the press conference held today at party offices, Sarah Eperu, the spokesperson of the women’s league, said they were not aware of Muntu’s meeting.
Analysts perceptive
Political analysts PML talked to argue that if the current FD leadership allows Muntu to move freely, his actions will politically weaken Amuriat.
“Without Dr. Kizza Besigye, Amuriat cannot shine. He confessed that Besigye, he is mentor. But for Muntu, he is known and he can stand alone,” analyst observed.
But Kasozi explained that they are ready to fight any body who will try to block them.
On why Gen Muntu chose to begin with Bunyoro sub- region, Kasozi said they got many votes from the region and they have wide popular support.
