The end of opposition

FDC defiant

Meanwhile, when asked about the exodus from FDC, the party spokesperson Ssemujju Nganda, opted to talk tough.

“We shall miss some of them but others can go,” he told journalists.

In an interview with the New Vision newspaper, he said the media is exaggerating the story of people not seeking to run on the FDC ticket.

“You need to understand that in the last elections, 18 sitting FDC MPs lost elections and there were 14 new MPs,” he said, “It’s a natural phenomenon, especially towards elections. There are people who will join a platform because they think it will help them win and others leave because they think it will not help them, not because the party has done something wrong.”

Ssemujju is of course skirting the issue. When a candidate carrying an FDC flag loses in an election, as 18 did in 2016, it is not the same as when candidates refuse to seek the party flag.

Betty Aol Ocan, the current leader of opposition in Parliament and MP for Gulu Municipality (FDC) also told The Independent the MPs had already quit FDC under whose flag they were elected to Parliament.

“It is not about paving way for another leader,” she said, “It is about the confusion brought about by Muntu’s breakaway.”

Speaking specifically about Winnie Kizza, the LOP she succeeded who announced she was not seeking re-election, Ocan said Kiiza would have faced a tough time campaigning in Kasese without FDC backing.

“FDC is strong,” Ocan said, “if you are not FDC, it is a little hard for you in Kasese.”

Ocan added: “We have a short time to live in this world; if the pressure is too much, you just give in and go and live a peaceful and comfortable life.”

Morris Ogenga Latigo, the Agago North County MP and also former LoP, said “political parties are like vehicles where one chooses which one to use basing on the road terrain and event to attend”.

“Those who think that being in FDC is expressing loyalty to an individual are absolutely mistaken,” he said.

He said that while still an active FDC member, he opened all the branches of FDC all over the country but the party leadership gradually never recognised his efforts.

“Life and time is still on our side; we will move on,” he said.

Latigo told The Independent that he is not running away from problems at Najjanankumbi but his frustration has a genesis.

“I told FDC many years ago that fighting each other is counterproductive and they never listened,” he said. He said, it is not only him who got fought, Muntu also got fought.

For now, Latigo said he will actively support his people in Agago North to improve lives as opposed to participating a lot in national politics.

“Let those who think they can manage FDC without us move on,” Latigo said, before adding that FDC leadership are not willing to talk.

“Some of us have surrendered the party to them…let them do what they can with the party. I don’t like to waste my time,” he said.

He said political party leaders no longer care about corruption, poverty, hatred.

“The situation is about survival for the fittest,” he said.

He said that Uganda has become the tail of East Africa in terms of development and political progress because the country lacks a platform that brings the whole country together with humility, respect and sincerity and address the interests of the people.

“You will not get any of those in any of the political parties and that is why I cannot waste my time belonging to any of them, “he said, “but I will stand in Agago North as an Independent.”

People Power upbeat

Meanwhile, the People Power group appears to be attractive. The group’s tiny red-walled headquarters in Kamwokya was a bee-hive of men and women in red shirts, berets, and scarfs signing forms, getting stamps, cheering and hugging as candidates aspiring to carry the group’s flag at various levels in the 2021 general elections pick nomination forms.

Seeking to dampen the enthusiasm, the police; which in situation like this acts like an extension of the ruling party, has set-up a teargas station near the People Power base in Kamwokya. The police occasionally fire off a few canisters. But the People Power crowd appears unfazed.

DP stalwarts Florence Namayanja (MP Bukoto East), Medard Segona (Busiro) and Muwanga Kivumbi (Butambala) have all been seen at People Power offices.  If all of them run on the Red Army ticket and win together with others, People Power could become a force to reckon with in parliament. If they lose, then DP could have a big fight within its ranks as they for splinter groups in the post-2021 election period.

****