Writes Leo Odera Omolo
FORUM for Democratic Change (FDC) on Thursday re-affirmed that they want Rtd. Col. Kizza Besigye to tussle it out once again with President Yoweri Museveni in the 2011 elections, about 10 months from now.
DP president Norbert Mao shakes hands with Besigye at the conference
Out of 937 registered voters for the national delegates’ conference, 845 (84%) voted for Besigye, while a paltry 115 (16%) voted for Muntu.
Nomination drama
A total of five candidates had initially picked nomination forms for the party’s flag-bearer but only two candidates managed to traverse the country for the post.
Originally, Kizza Besigye, Mugisha Muntu, Francis Atugonza, Mukalazi Kibuuka and Buga Meya showed up for the post.
However, Kibuuka was delayed by his bankers and could not turn in the sh2.5m nomination fee, according to Dan Mugarura, the party’s electoral commission chairman.
Buga Meya missed a bus from Arua and by the time he arrived in Kampala, nominations were closed.
Atugonza stepped down for Besigye, leaving the competition between the two former army chiefs.
But some delegates doubt whether the others were serious contenders and suspect that their role was to give the process a semblance of wider competition.
Delegates also wondered whether the alleged stepping down of Atugonza for Besigye was not a calculated move to tilt the ground in Besigye’s favour.
Forged delegates ’ cards
At least eight people who were peddling forged delegates cards, were arrested.
There were also allegations of attempts to rig the elections.
This prompted party chairman Sam Njuba to appeal to the delegates to listen to their conscience and not accept to be derailed. “There have been allegations of bribery and rumour mongering, but you should know that some of us left the Movement because of these,” he said.
Besigye , Muntu tussle it out
The delegates witnessed a rather rare opportunity when the two political heavyweights held a 30-minute final leg to win the favour of the delegates.
A coin was tossed, giving Besigye a chance to address the delegates first. From an observer’s view point, one could tell that the majority of the delegates supported Besigye because he received a louder applause. In his address, Besigye dwelt more on his previous performance and what he has done to bring FDC to the limelight.
Muntu repeatedly told the delegates that even if he did not become the party’s flag-bearer, he would rally behind Besigye in promoting the ideals of the party. This left his supporters confused, most of whom were weary of his soft, non-combative approach.
MPs Kamya , Onzima expulsion
At the peak of the event, when everyone was waiting for the winner, the FDC secretary general, MP Alice Alaso, officially announced the dismissal of MPs Beti Kamya and Alex Onzima from the party.
The party’s national executive committee, she announced, had passed a resolution to expel them from FDC but left the final decision in the hands of the delegates’ conference.
The two failed to turn up last week when they were summoned by the party disciplinary committee.
The party national chairman, MP Sam Njuba, asked the delegates to decide whether to expel them, to which the entire house consented. “Since the delegates have responded overwhelmingly, I have no power to reverse the decision,” Njuba said. “The two MPs, Beti Kamya and Alex Onzima, are no longer members of FDC,” Kamya is accused of forming her own political party, the Uganda Federal Alliance (UFA), under which she said she would contest for the presidency in 2011.
Onzima is accused of speaking ill of FDC while courting President Museveni in West Nile.
Inter-Party dialogue The delegates’ conference also adopted the Inter-Party Organization Dialogue that brings together all political parties.
Since the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the opposition and the ruling party, the six political parties have held a series of meetings discussing the electoral law reforms and the Presidential Elections Amendment Bill. The parties involved are the ruling NRM, the Conservative Party (CP), the Democratic Party (DP), FDC, JEEMA and the Uganda Peoples’ Congress (UPC).
FDC is also a member of the opposition coalition, the Inter-Party Cooperation (IPC), which has agreed to field a joint opposition candidate.
The party flag-bearers still have a challenge to tussle it out with other opposition candidates in the IPC coalition. The DP, which has in the past expressed skepticism about the coalition, has indicated that they might still join the group.
Observers at Thursday’s conference also attributed Besigye’s victory to his a strong advocacy for the coalition.
This was boosted by the presence of the other opposition party leaders, Norbert Mao (DP), Olara Otunnu (UPC), John Ken Lukyamuzi (CP) and Kibirige Mayanja (JEEMA).
Latigo ’s surprise
Shortly after Muntu concluded his address, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Ogenga Latigo, walked in, spurring more applause.
Latigo had been recovering from an accident. “I am happy Besigye has become the party flag-bearer because he is the solid candidate for 2011. When Muntu’s time comes, we shall give him what he deserves,” Latigo said. “If all elections in Uganda were like this, voters would cast their votes and report peacefully to work after a free, open and transparent election.”
In conclusion the delegates’ conference was a turning point for the party. It acted as the end of the first party president and gave him another chance to try his his luck against Museveni
Ends