Muntu reassures FDC supporters of victory

Strategy. Maj. Gen. Muntu says his focus is now on capturing the NRM’s regional strongholds and fielding candidates in all positions during the 2016 general elections.

The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party leader, Maj. Gen. (rtd) Mugisha Muntu, has reassured the opposition supporters of victory in the 2016 general elections.

During a press conference in Dokolo Town on Monday, Mr Muntu said they would achieve this by utilising the remaining three years to build trust between the people and FDC officials in the region.
“I can promise you one thing; that you are going to see a shift in this country even before we get to the elections. That is going to be the assurance of victory,” he said.

“We don’t want the population to look at us as just an opposition party fighting against the government but as a party that is positioned as the government in waiting.

“We are working on strategies, which we are still discussing internally, on how to penetrate the Movement strongholds in central and west ern region and disintegrate that support base of the movement and shift it to our side.”

According to Mr Muntu, FDC has developed strategies to build party networks starting from villages, and also recruit leaders to contest at all levels.

“We will put all plans in place, all our human resource capabilities are going to be focused on that, including all our financial resources,” Mr Muntu said.

Ms Salaam Musumba, the party deputy president and LC5 chairperson of Kamuli District, said: “We are present, that is the biggest assurance.”
Recently announcing the rebranding of the party, Maj. Gen. Muntu made adjustments to the party manifesto.

The decision was reached during closed-door meetings by party officials.
In an interview with the Daily Monitor, the party presidential secretary, Mr Christopher Kibanzanga, said after the discussions with party leaders, the president constituted a think tank that would guide the change.
They came up with five priority areas education, agriculture, health, infrastructure and eliminating corruption.

Party elections
This follows the party presidential elections on November 22 to replace long-serving party leader, Col (rtd) Dr Kizza Besigye. But it has left the party divided.

During the poll, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Mr Nandala Mafabi, was defeated by Mr Muntu.

Since then, there has been tension in the party, with the Mafabi group demanding the resignation of electoral commission chairperson Dan Mugarura and secretary-general Alice Alaso over their conduct during the ballot.
In 2011, Dr Besigye, whose second term as FDC party president was meant to expire in 2014, said he would not seek to extend his leadership.

Dr Besigye had been President Museveni’s main political rival over the last decade and leading challenger for the presidency in the last three elections.

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