FDC to unveil new party agenda today

Kampala- Forum for Democratic Change will today launch its revised programme proposals to tackle the key areas of democracy, the economy, education, agriculture, health and security in the country.

According to Mr John Kikonyogo, the party’s spokesperson, “the proposals will help to define FDC as a party that stands for certain values and not only as a party that is opposed to the NRM government.”

As party president Mugisha Muntu admits: “Ugandans generally associate FDC with fighting to remove President Museveni than with what the party plans to do (despite the party’s policy proposals having been spelt out in its first policy platform at its founding in 2005).”

Maj Gen Muntu says FDC needed to revise its policy platform “to stand itself in good stead for 2016 and thereafter”.

The Bush War General who served as Army commander for eight years, said once in power, the party proposes to use diplomacy to rally allies and neutralise potential threats, counter terrorism through effective intelligence while also investing in cyber-security capabilities.

Gen Muntu says the UPDF is currently locked in excursions in South Sudan where it is propping up the government of Salva Kirr from an onslaught led by Dr Riek Machar’s rebel forces; Somalia where it is battling the Al-Shabaab militant group while also hunting the LRA rebels in the Central African Republic.

Among reforms detailed in the 48-page master document, FDC proposes reduction in size of government and eliminating wastage, expanding the tax base, streamlining the tax regime, ensuring transparency in the minerals sector and effective regional and international development partnerships.

The proposals

On health: The policy platform looks to improve the health care provision system by revamping referral hospitals, increasing investment in health research, introducing a nation-wide ambulance and air rescue service and raising pay packs for medics.

The party also proposes investment in specialised diagnostic treatment for illnesses like cancer, kidney and heart diseases, taking into account the high costs of treatment abroad.

A 2012 report by Health ministry shows that government spends at least $150 million (about Shs377 billion) on treating mostly top government officials abroad.

On Education: The new platform says the provision of education has been “overly politicised and undermined by failure to inject in adequate resources”. It proposes to raise teachers’ pay and increase general financing of the sector.

On Agriculture: The party proposes to establish a National Agricultural Bank and a National Land Development Agency (NLDA) to champion public-private partnerships, revive agricultural cooperatives and resolve the land tenure question.

On unemployment. The party proposes to commit a specific share of the budget to programmes that directly impact on the plight of women and youth, many of whom suffer unemployment.