As the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) war rages, the party founding president, Rtd Col Dr. Kizza Besigye has been accused of planning to join the National Unity Platform NUP).
The startling revelation has been made by the former party Treasurer General, Jack Sabiiti during a press conference at the White Horse Hotel in Kabale Municipality.
He said Besigye was fighting the Najjanankumbi faction of FDC in order to weaken the party before he forms an alliance with his Katonga road based faction.
Sabiiti said Besigye’s mission all along has been to see that the FDC sinks.
Sabiiti revealed that the FDC had been in turmoil over financial matters, particularly concerning the funds used during the 2021 elections. The former Treasurer General emphasized that Besigye’s insistence on auditing these funds had triggered his suspicions. Sabiiti took the opportunity to highlight his role as the former treasurer, pointing out that he had knowledge of all funding sources during his tenure.
“Why did Besigye ask for the audit of the money we used in elections, yet we have never audited the money used in our party since 2001? When I was the treasurer general of FDC, I knew the sources of all our funding, and I had never seen the party auditing after elections. So, when I saw Besigye calling for the audit of the money the FDC party had spent in the elections, I told myself that I would not allow this young man, Nandala Mafabi (the FDC Secretary General) be hanged alone. I proposed that instead of auditing only the 2021 elections, we should start from 2001 when I was the treasurer general until 2021. That’s when Besigye fumed,” Jack Sabiti said.
Furthermore, Sabiiti accused Besigye of failing to contribute to fundraising efforts and campaigning for the FDC’s presidential candidate, Patrick Oboi Amuriat. He detailed a meeting where Besigye directed him and Nandala Mafabi, the FDC Secretary General, to draft an election budget. Allegedly, Besigye withheld his response until the last moment, prompting Sabiiti and Mafabi to source funds independently, with due permission from the National Executive Committee.
“Look, Besigye called us at his home me and Mafabi before the 2021 general elections. He directed me to draft the budget for our elections and I asked Mr. Mafabi to do it. When we finished it, we gave it to Besigye. He kept it with no response until time almost reached for nomination. We said no, we can’t fail to get nominated as FDC. Mafabi and I said we can’t get ashamed, I asked Mafabi to look for money. But I told Mr. Mafabi and Patrick Oboi Amuriat to seek the permission from national executive committee, NEC before they look for money. They did that and it’s on record because there is a minute that allowed Nandala Mafabi to look for money. The little that was got from fundraising was put in the treasury of FDC. The money was got from sources as Besigye knew. I know all the sources that Besigye used to get money from,” Sabiiti was quoted.
Mr. Sabiiti swore in the name of God that he didn’t know the source of the cash that Mafabi provided to the party for campaigns.
