The radical wing of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has lost the war to block party President Maj Gen Mugisha Muntu from nominating the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Parliament, Chimp Corps report.
Led by Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, Samuel Makokha and Ingrid Turinawe, this fundamentalist group had argued that the party should not name the LoP as the political party “won the 2016 elections.”
Nganda while addressing the party’s weekly press conference at the party’s head offices in Najjanankumbi said that while FDC doesn’t have the majority MPs in Parliament, they did win the February 18th Presidential elections and are therefore the ruling and not opposition party.
FDC has since February refused to accept the outcome of the presidential elections in which their candidate Col Dr Kizza Besigye was announced runner-up with 35 percent of the poll, against the incumbent Yoweri Museveni who emerged winner with a little above 60 percent.
Dr Besigye went as far as taking oath as the country’s president elect, which landed him to Luzira Prison on alleged treason charges.
The radical faction argued that having a LoP would defeat the purpose of the defiance campaign based on the idea that President Museveni did not win the February elections.
They further submitted during this week’s meetings held at the party headquarters in Najjanankumbi and Parliament that naming the LoP would imply accepting defeat in the 2016 elections.
FDC members attacked Muntu, saying the nomination of LoP would kill the party’s plans to sustain acts of defiance.
Meeting
However, ChimpReports understands liberals have carried the day with the meeting of NEC Working Committee and FDC MPs chaired by Muntu on Tuesday agreeing to reveal the nominated LoP by close of Wednesday.
“There will be a meeting today at the party headquarters where president Muntu will tell the FDC Working Committee his choice for LoP. We don’t know whom he will choose,” said FDC Deputy Electoral Commission chairman, Michael Kabaziguruka on Wednesday morning.
“The President nominates the LoP for NEC’s approval. Now that the party has taken the decision to appoint a Leader of Opposition in Parliament, it no longer matters whether I disagree or agree with it. My job is to defend this position,” said Kabaziguruka.
Today’s Working Committee will be attended by the Party President; Chairman; head of legal, Mobilisation Secretary; Secretaries For Youth and Women; Secretary General, Treasury General and Electoral Commission.
The LoP office which has in the past been a major cause of contention in FDC is currently being eyed by Dokolo Woman MP Cecilia Ogwal, Bugweri County MP Abdu Katuntu and Kasese Woman MP Hon Winnie Kiiza.
Other MPs said to be interested in the seat currently occupied by Wafula Oguttu include the former Leader of Opposition Prof Ogenga Latigo, MPs Kaps Fungaroo, Elijah Okupa and Odonga Otto among others.
Former Presidential candidate Prof Venansius Baryamureeba alias Barya, warned the opposition FDC will lose influence if it turns down the privilege of appointing the LoP.
He said the Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LOP) is a very important and strategic position with an annual budget over Shs 2 billion some of which end up at the party headquarters in one way or the other.
“LOP appoints chairpersons and vice chairpersons of accountability committees in parliament. These are also very strategic positions to keep a party politically relevant and it would be a great mistake if FDC lost the control of accountability committees,” said the former Makerere Vice Chancellor.