Besigye is still FDC’s Number One, Oguttu says
Mr Oguttu (R) addresses journalists at the party headquarters in Kampala yesterday. Left is Francis Mwijukye, a member of FDC publicity committee. PHOTO BY Faiswal Kasirye.
What you need to know:
Party spokesperson says the influential figure remains a kingpin in the largest opposition party, but says party leader Mugisha Muntu’s legitimacy is not in doubt.
KAMPALA
The spokesperson of the country’s largest opposition party, Forum For Democratic Change, has said former leader Kizza Besigye is still the party’s face.
Mr Wafula Oguttu, who likened Dr Besigye’s role in FDC to that of South Africa’s Nelson Mandela in the African National Congress party, also dismissed claims there was a rift in the Najjanakumbi headquartered party. “Dr Besigye is still the number one in FDC. He is a founder member of the party who has been involved in struggles to make this country a better place. South Africa [African National Congress] has Jacob Zuma but when you go to Mesopotamia and you ask, who is more popular?” Mr Oguttu said.
No rift
He said reports that supporters of Col. Besigye had an icy relationship with those of the party principal Maj. Gen. (rtd) Mugisha Muntu were “imaginary and funny.” Mr Mandela retired from public life in 2004 but remains globally revered for leading the anti- apartheid struggle in South Africa and voluntarily retiring from the presidency.
Mr Oguttu added: “There have been stories that Dr Besigye is overshadowing Muntu and does not want to hand over power but after the elections, he retired and said he wanted to take part in activism and that is what he is doing. That does not mean that he is taking the limelight from anyone.” Mr Wafula, also the Bukholi Central legislator, was, however, quick to stress that Gen. Muntu’s legitimacy was not in doubt, adding that “he [Gen.Muntu] knows that there are people who are angry and we are giving them time to heal.”
November issues
The party was thrown into disarray after the November 22 presidential elections in which Gen. Muntu beat the Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Mr Nandala Mafabi. Tempers flared after supporters of Mr Mafabi insisted that the polls were rigged and demanded the resignation of two senior party officials whom they accused of flouting electoral laws. A committee instituted by the party to investigate the complaints is yet to release its report, about six months later.
In March, Gen. Muntu warned of what he called an “invisible hand” that he said was bent to portray the opposition as hopeless. “The invisible hand has not ceased to operate and will continue trying to show the population that opposition cannot manage its own affairs. President Museveni will try to show that there is no stable political foundation apart from him,” he said.
