Kampala, Uganda: There is a confidential debate taking place within Dr. Kizza Besigye’s Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Katonga Faction regarding three potential courses of action: purchasing an existing political party, forming a new political party, or aligning with Bobi Wine’s NUP.
Mubrak Munyagwa, the former legislator of Kawempe South and a member of Dr. Besigye’s people’s government, has disclosed his intention to propose a debate within their National Executive Committee (NEC) to determine their next political move. He believes that continuing to fight for FDC is no longer productive and diverts them from their primary objective of challenging President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s government.
Munyagwa urged his colleagues to acknowledge the setback they encountered when Justice Musa Ssekaana’s ruling favored their political opponents at Najjanankumbi, allowing them to hold a national delegates conference where Patrick Amuriat Oboi and Nathan Nandala Mafabi were re-elected as party president and Secretary General, respectively.
Munyagwa, a lawyer, emphasized that Ssekaana’s ruling legally recognized Amuriat and Mafabi as the rightful leaders of the FDC, and they should handle the ruling politically rather than pursuing appeals and continuing the fight for FDC.
He foresees FDC following a similar fate as the Democratic Party (DP), which was delivered to President Museveni by Norbert Mao and colleagues. Munyagwa proposed that they search for a smaller political party to acquire, as Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine) did with Moses Kibalama’s National Unity, Reconciliation, and Development Party, which was rebranded as the National Unity Platform (NUP).
However, Munyagwa ruled out the possibility of Katonga faction joining Bobi Wine’s NUP, citing concerns about its leadership and decision-making process, led by the Fire Base Crew, a music organization founded by Bobi Wine before his entry into politics.
Munyagwa may face opposition from Dr. Besigye, who maintains that political parties cannot bring change in Uganda and advocates for political activism.
Erias Lukwago, the interim president of the FDC Katonga faction and the Kampala Lord Mayor, announced plans for a nationwide tour to update their supporters on their future political direction and encourage participation in upcoming village elections. Their faction continues to pursue legal avenues to counter their adversaries in Najjanankumbi, despite setbacks from Justice Ssekaana’s ruling.
Dr. Besigye, their supreme leader, is currently in the United States of America, engaging in private discussions with political donors and members of the diaspora community. It is alleged that he is seeking support for a joint political effort with Bobi Wine against Museveni’s government.