KAMPALA – The Inspector General of Police has declined to provide security for the FDC delegates’ conference that has been organised by party president Wasswa Birigwa.
In a September 13 letter, John Nuwagira, writing on behalf of the IGP, said he had already received a letter from the FDC Secretary General Nandala Mafabi, saying they were not aware of the conference, hence calling it an illegality.
“This is to acknowledge receipt of yours unreferenced, dated September 11, 2023 regarding the above captioned subject matter,” Nuwagira wrote to Birigwa.
He added: “This is also to inform you, that Uganda Police Force is equally in receipt of another communication from the Secretary General. Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Ref; FDC 1.84/IGP/03/09/2023, dated 12th Septembers 2023, denying any knowledge of such a meeting and complaining that, if it were to take place, it would be in direct contravention of the party constitution and an illegality. That it would as well likely cause confusion and chaos amongst the population.”
As a result, the IGP asked Birigwa to harmonise the matter with the party leadership through courts of law.
“In view of the above therefore, you are advised to reconcile the party position or seek resolution from the courts of law to avoid likely open conflict and possible clashes. Police will therefore not be ready to provide the required security for the event until the party position is harmonized,” he said.
The police response is a blow to Birigwa who had organised the national delegates conference slated for September 19, 2023.
Birigwa had requested for over Shs630 million to support the conference that is expected to be attended by over 1,900 delegates from across the country including about 400 invited guests.
However, the party turned down his request on grounds that the said event had not been authorized by the party organs. The FDC instead says the National Delegates’ Conference, which is set to elect the party’s National Executive Committee leaders, including the party president, is scheduled for October 6 at UMA showgrounds in Kampala.
But Birigwa last week indicated that his delegates’ conference would go on as earlier planned with or without funding from the party.
He says he has so far raised 50 percent of the funds required to host his national delegates conference slated for September 19, 2023.
