Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) strong woman, Night Proscovia Salaam Musumba has slammed the embattled party president, Patrick Amuriat Oboi calling him a political reject.
Salaam says Amuriat Oboi was rejected by the very people of Teso subregion where he hails from and it is therefore being forgetful if he alleges that Rtd Col Dr Kiza Besiyge and Erias Lukwago are fighting him and Nandala Mafabi because they are easterners.
“POA was rejected by all Members of Parliament and politicians from Teso and they backed Gen Mugisha Muntu and it is delegates from the rest of Uganda who made him FDC president. This is a fact because I was at the center of things. It is Uganda he has betrayed and not Teso or Easterners,” said Salaam.
Salaam made the remarks Thursday September 21, 2023 while appearing on Pr. Aloysius Bugingo’s Salt TV morning show hosted by Apollo Tusiime.
The lady from Kamuli reminded POA and Nandala that had it not been efforts of Besigye, the duo would have never held the positions they have been having in FDC.
Musumba who has held different positions in since its inception in 2005, revealed that when Amuriat Oboi stepped forward to contest against Rtd Gen Mugisha Muntu, all FDC delegates from Teso ganged up to reject him.
She says even other politicians from Teso who knew Amuriat Oboi, whispered to everyone in FDC and advised them not to let him take leadership, warning that he would plunge the party into a sea of problems but delegates from other regions gave him a benefit of doubt.
Oboi’s tenure at the helm of FDC has seen the party plunge into factions and becoming weaker every other day as the ruling NRM and the National Unity Platform (NUP) continue to poach members from the once Museveni’s most feared opposition party.
A recent contentious meeting of the National Council held at the end of July ended up dividing the party more than before.
POA and Nandala failed to convince members on the alleged “dirty money” from the state to ‘sale’ the party to ruling NRM.
Salaam and other party leaders had hoped that this meeting would bridge the gaps and foster harmony within the FDC.
However, the outcome proved disappointing, and the chances of an amicable resolution to the internal impasse seemed to have diminished.
The leaders who expected answers from POA and Nandala were dismayed at their actions, questioning how a party that prides itself on upholding the rule of law could resort to using “Kifeesi” thugs to intimidate and assault its own members during the said NEC meeting.
In fact that day, FDC spokesperson, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda lamented that it is increasingly difficult for those not allied to Nandala and Amuriat faction to access the party headquarters.
“How can a party that prides in the rule of law bring Kifeesi to beat up its own members? It has now become almost impossible to access the party headquarters if you are not allied to Nandala and Amuriat. I represent a town constituency, and I have capacity to mobilize my people to take over that headquarters in minutes but, I can’t do that because it is not worth it,” Ssemujju said.
Days later, POA and Nandala responded by throwing out the Kira Municipality MP from the position of FDC chief whip in Parliament. Nganda was only saved by Speaker Annet Among when she responded to Nandala’s letter by informing the FDC that they should resolve their conflicts internally rather than involving Parliament by changing the whips.
As some members including founding FDC president, Besigye sought to have the crisis resolved, POA and Nandala went ahead to organize internal party elections amidst the storm.
Salaam says that such actions are a clear indicator that the duo are no longer interested in the existence of FDC but want it killed.
Recently the party chairman, Ambassador Wasswa Birigwa called a delegates conference but POA and Mafabi using state apparatus made sure the conference is blocked . When police blocked the delegates from accessing the venue, members said it was POA and Mafabi hiding behind the police.
Swift as he is, Besigye quickly changed the venue and took the delegates conference to his Katonga road based office.
Enraged and tired of PAO and Mafabi style of operation, the delegates made several resolutions including denouncing duo whom they replaced by their deputies.
“He is more about himself than teamwork. He travels round the country with just himself or the SG eating “kasoli” on the streets to brand themselves not the party,” some delegates including Salaam Musumba were heard complaining about POA.
A day after the conference, POA said only death would throw him out of office. In fact they went ahead to nominate candidates for various positions of leaders in the FDC.
