KAMPALA – The Opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has said there is a sustained media agenda aimed at tarnishing the image of the party.
According to FDC spokesman Ibrahim Semujju Nganda, there is a clear campaign in the media aimed at projecting the party as being on the verge on collapse as many of its former supporters continue to defect.
“There has been a sustained campaign in the media to portray FDC as a party in meltdown. Members who have failed to meet the minimum requirements to be nominated as FDC candidates have been reported as desertions,” Mr Nganda said at the FDC offices in Najjanankumbi, a city suburb.
He insisted that those who are clashing with the party leadership are the indisciplined type who are seeking public sympathy.
“The party recognizes the contribution every member has made but it also has zero tolerance policy on indiscipline because we seek to offer our country leadership that has been lacking for five decades now,” Mr Nganda.
His remarks come after party secretary general Nandala Mafabi last Thursday clashed with Kampala Woman MP Nabila Sempala Naggayi on live TV. Ms Nabilah had earlier been turned away from the FDC headquarters where she had returned her nominations forms for the position of Kampala Mayor that she intends to contest in the 2021 elections.
MPs Elijah Okupa (Kasilo), Ms Angelline Osege (Soroti District) and Edmund Herbert Ariko (Soroti Municipality) have also been barred from taking part in the ongoing nomination exercise until they resolve “pending issues” with the FDC party.
Besides, Nganda says all the MPs being reported in the media as deserters had long left the party and merely returned to cause chaos.
“Don’t light fire on our party and report it as an outbreak. We held a big function at Namboole to celebrate the 15 years of FDC. Did you see any of the MPs are giving a lot of publicity there? These colleagues had left the party long ago but lacked courage to say so,” Semujju added.
As such, he called upon the media to be accurate and apply fairness in their news reporting saying this could be a machination by the incumbent regime to divert public debate.
