Patrick Amuriat, the embattled Forum for Democratic Change, FDC president, has dismissed the recent delegates’ conference that removed him from his position and criticized the organizers, including founding president Dr. Kizza Besigye.
The conference, organized by FDC party chairman Wasswa Birigwa and attended by Dr. Besigye, suspended Amuriat and Secretary General Nathan Nandala among other resolutions. It took place at the FDC offices in Katonga, Kampala, after being initially blocked by the police from convening in Busabala.
Amuriat called the Katonga conference illegitimate and stated that the party’s lawyers are working on a legal case against those involved in the meeting.
“They do not have the powers to decide even if there was no court order against the conference. Our lawyers are working on a case against the individuals involved in the conference,” he said.
He expressed disappointment in Dr. Besigye and others, suggesting that they have harmed the party’s unity and credibility. Amuriat emphasized that the FDC can move forward without Dr. Besigye and that they are proceeding with the election of the National Executive Committee (NEC) on October 16.
“Of all people, maybe I can excuse Ssemujju and Lukwago because they are fairly new in the party but not Francis Mwijukye, Harold Kaija and Besigye. I think they have shot themselves in the foot by trying to kill their own party. I had a lot of respect for our founding president Dr Kizza Besigye but I’m a man who can’t be a bootlicker of anyone. The code that brought us together as FDC has been broken today.” he added
Amuriat also criticized Wasswa Birigwa, referring to him as a 75-year-old comedian and questioning his leadership of the party.