Alaso hits back at Mafabi camp

She tells FDC party officials that she is not aware of any money allegedly donated by Mafabi - Shs700m - to facilitate the 2006 elections.

Kampala

The Forum for Democratic Change secretary general, Ms Alice Alaso, yesterday told the committee investigating last year’s party presidential elections that the allegations made against her are an indication of a “lack of understanding of how the party is run” by the petitioners.

In a five-hour submission, Ms Alaso vowed not to step down but promised to resign permanently if it is recommended by the committee as a sanction over any wrongdoing in the elections.

The Serere Woman MP appeared before the committee to explain why she allegedly publicly took sides during the elections, wrote to Speaker Rebecca Kadaga demanding the resignation of Mr Nandala Mafabi as Leader of Opposition in Parliament and her appointment of relatives on the electoral affairs desk.

Ms Alaso, who is at the centre of a petition by Mr Mafabi‘s supporters over the November 22 disputed elections, also explained the secretariat’s role in relation to alleged “hijacking and monopolising of the electoral process.”

Her appoint of Mr Peter Otukei, whom she conceded is her relative and the questioning of Shs700m that Mr Mafabi claims he donated to the party to facilitate the 2006 elections took centre stage.

“Mr Otukuei was recruited as a mobilisation officer in 2010 and put in charge of eastern Uganda and in 2012, NEC resolved that an official be recruited to do work for the EC.The EC recommended Mr Otukei and he was called back to work and the SG appointed him,” Ms Alaso told the inquiry at the FDC headquarters in Najjanakumbi.

She added: “As the chief accounting officer of the party, I am not aware of where Nandala put or to whom the money was given. The money could have been given but it was not brought to the attention of the SG. Nandala is the deputy treasurer and I do not know why they [the Treasury] did not acknowledge to the party if he had contributed.”

Ms Alaso said she wrote to the Speaker, demanding for the resignation of Mr Mafabi, in line with FDC elections guidelines, which call for contestants in party elections to resign their government positions.

She said her decision was “initially” supported by a meeting chaired by Dr Kizza Besigye but members [who attended] later got divided on the matter.
According to Ms Alaso, Mr Geoffrey Ekanya, the third contestant, stepped down from his position on the shadow cabinet.

sarinaitwe@ug.nationmedia.com