Why the EC rejected name, colours of FDC Katonga party

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Electoral Commission-EC has written to the promoters of Peoples Front for Freedom [PFF], the intended political party of the FDC breakaway faction of Katonga, expressing concern over the intended name and colours of the party.

In a letter dated September 4 and signed by Mulekwah Russel Jacques Leonard, the Secretary of the Electoral Commission, PFF should reconsider its name and colours because they are similar to those of existing political parties. “The submissions in respect of names of the proposed political party, People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) closely resembles an already reserved Political Party name – People Power Front (PPF), which is likely to confuse members of the public. The choice of white and royal blue as colours closely resembles that of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and is likely to confuse the general public. Please refer to the symbol and use by the FDC Party,” the letter reads in part.

The letter adds that the Political Parties and Other Organizations Act prohibits the usage of a colour. name or initials of any registered Political Party or Organization. “This is, therefore, to inform you that you comply with the relevant provisions under the Political Parties and Organizations’ Act governing the registration of Political Parties and Organizations,” The letter also adds that the Act also requires that the application for registration of a Political Party or Organization should be accompanied by a full description of the identifying symbols, slogans and colours yet according to what was submitted by PFF, it merely states the colours being white and royal blue and a symbol of a phone, without a full description of these symbol and colours submitted for reservation.

Efforts to speak to Wafula Oguttu, who was listed as the first promoter of PFF were futile as his known telephone number was switched off.

However, another promoter of PFF who asked not to be named said they have already responded to the letter of the EC. “There is no story, they have written to us guiding us on what they need and we have responded by giving them what they asked for. So, we await the reply and we shall inform you,” she said.

FDC witnessed another fallout last year when a section of the party accused President Amuriat Oboi Patrick and Secretary General Nathan Nandala Mafabi of taking Museveni’s money which was used in the general elections of 2021. Since then, the party has had two factions; one sitting at Katonga Road in Kampala and the other sitting at Najjanankumbi. It’s now the Katonga faction that wants to start a new political party.

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