Muntu: The rich have left NRM but undecided

The leader of the Forum for Democratic Change, Maj. Gen (rtd). Mugisha Muntu, has said the middle class and youth have abandoned the ruling NRM party, though they have not joined the opposition.

The former army commander says they are “sitting on the fence”. Maj.Gen Muntu told a training session of more than 100 FDC district chairpersons at Lweza National Training Centre, off Entebbe Road, that the party needs to develop a “dual strategy at a national and local level” to woo more than 40 per cent of voters who did not participate in the 2011 presidential elections.

“The middle class, youth and other groups had high expectations in the movement but the rampant corruption and breakdown in delivery of basic services, both in the rural and urban areas, have led to justifiable frustrations which have driven them out,” Gen. Muntu said, “There is a wrong perception that FDC’s main objective is to remove President Museveni but we need to ask ourselves that ‘suppose President Museveni ceases to be President for whatever reason, why should anyone join the opposition?’”

But the NRM spokesperson, Mr Ofwono Opondo, said Gen. Muntu is “day-dreaming and should wait for 2016 to make such statements.” Gen Muntu also took time off to refer to the fallout from last year’s disputed party presidential elections, vowing that “managing the conflict [that emerged from the polls] in a fair, transparent manner which is different from the movement” would build cohesion within the party.

A committee is currently investigating complaints filed by the Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Mr Nandala Mafabi, and the Tororo County MP, Mr Geoffrey Ekanya, over the elections.