The opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has dismissed former Chairperson of the FDC women’s league Ingrid Turinawe and two others for contesting as Independent candidates against the official party flag bearers for respective positions.
The FDC Secretary General Nandala Mafabi in a letter dated December 07, 2020 told the Rukungiri FDC Chairperson about the party decision to dismiss Ingrid and two others.
Ingrid lost in the FDC party Primaries for Rukungiri Municipality seat to Dr. Wallen Nuwagaba while Winnie Babihuga and Darius Tweyambe lost to the incumbent Betty Muzanira and Charles Maharu for Rukungiri Woman MP seat and Rukungiri Municipality mayorship respectively.
All the trio have returned to contest as independents contrary to the party constitution.
Article 12(d) on Cessation states that, “If a member joins another party or in an election stands as an independent ceases to be a member of FDC.
According to Nandala Mafabi, FDC’s official flag bearers in Rukungiri are; Dr. Wallen Nuwagaba Tumwine (Rukungiri Municipality), Betty Muzanira (Woman MP Rukungiri), Charles Maharu (Mayor Rukungiri Municipality) Fred Turyamuhweza (Rujumbura Constituency) and Naboth Namanya (Rubabo County).
Mafabi urged the FDC structures in Rukungiri to only solicit support for the above mentioned flag bearers and warned the FDC leaning independents against using the FDC sign in their campaigns.
“Any member of the party who campaigns for an independent candidate or otherwise shall be expelled from the party. The independent candidates should immediately stop using the FDC sign and colors otherwise the party would advise the electoral commission to disqualify them,” Mafabi said.
He added, “The entire public is hereby informed that these independent candidates are not members of FDC and have no moral authority to act on behalf of FDC.”
The FDC house has been on fire since the election of Patrick Amuriat Oboi as party president and ‘withdrawal’ of the party founder Dr Kizza Besigye. Unfair dismissal of members and defections have been the order of the day with the members citing lack of cohesion in the party.
For example, in Eastern region, it is only longtime FDC cadres such as Nandala Mafabi and Salaamu Musumba who are still in the Party. While in Teso sub region where Amuriat hails, all the FDC MPs were denied party tickets and have since abandoned the party to contest as independents. They include; Herbert Ariko (Soroti Municipality now contesting for East Soroti city), Angelline Osegge (Soroti Woman MP) and Elijah Okupa (Kasilo County).
In NRM, party MPs voted against a proposed amendment blocking any party candidate from contesting against the official flag bearer.