Muntu supporters ask him to create a political party

Hoima- A section of leaders in Bunyoro sub-region have asked the former president of the Opposition Forum for Democratic Change, Gen Mugisha Muntu to form a political party.

During his first public consultative meeting since he lost the presidency to Mr Patrick Amuriat in the November 2017 polls, Gen Muntu did not rule out a possibility of quitting FDC to join another opposition party.

The meeting convened on Monday by the Hoima FDC Chairman, Mr Jackson Wabyoona  at Hoima Resort Hotel and was attended by dozens of leaders from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), civil society organisations, the private sector and religious groups.

Calls for a new party

The former Hoima Assistant Chief Administrative Officer, Mr Moses Kyamanywa and a member of the NRM Historical Forum said there are many Ugandans who are frustrated by Uganda’s political parties like NRM and FDC which have several leadership challenges.

“There are many people who are frustrated and need direction but no one has given them an alternative. We need to form a new political party whose core message is peace and reconciliation” Mr Kyamanywa said.

Masindi mayor, Mr Joab Businge supported the proposal of founding a new political party that could unite Ugandans who share its values and culture.

He said current political parties in Uganda suffer from a syndrome of loyalty to a founding leader which suffocates other leaders from emerging.

“If we have values which we believe in, let us not allow them to die. Let us plant them through formation of a new party,” Mr Businge said amidst cheers from the gathering.

 Divergent view

However, the former FDC Hoima district woman parliamentary aspirant Rehema Nabisere said forming a new party is time consuming.

“Let us go to the grassroots and mobilise the people. Even people in NRM are scared of FDC. Let us bring them closer and we work towards achieving regime change,” Mr Nabisere said.

Gen Muntu said Uganda is at crossroads as President Museveni nears his exit but opposition forces have not yet sufficiently organised to utilise the opportunity of political transition that is unfolding in the country.

Muntu hints on political party

“We would want to see internal contradictions resolved. But we have mentioned to the [FDC] party leaders that if the internal contradictions cannot be resolved, that [it]requires different tendencies to grow separately but focus on a common objective of removing dictatorship and thereafter establish good governance, then we shall make that decision without any hesitation,” Gen Muntu said.

Gen Muntu said his national consultative meetings will last between one to two months and thereafter, he and other leaders who share similar values would make a decision based on the people’s views.

Gen Muntu said some people are spending time quarrelling over defiance or building party structures in FDC and overwhelm the NRM regime at elections but both approaches have not yet achieved regime change.

He asked opposition leaders to resist the temptation of being obsessed with regime change.

 “Museveni’s departure is given whether he likes it or not. But if we do not prepare for a post Museveni era, we may find ourselves in the same position we are trying to escape from, where a country is dependent on the charity of individuals rather than functioning institutions,” Gen Muntu said.

Gen Muntu who said nothing happens in life by accident said opposition forces need to also pay attention on how power would be managed responsibly in the post-Museveni era.

Gen Muntu who participated in the NRA bush war said he was among the believers that NRM would change Uganda fundamentally but he continues to see mistakes which were done by UPC and Amin continuing to emerge.

He said institutions are weak, abuse of power, impunity and manipulation are raging in the country.

Caution on constitutional amendment

Gen Muntu said the 317 MPs who voted in favour of amending Article 102(b) of the Constitution are likely to cause a crisis in the country because from consultations, it was clear that about 80 of the population was against scrapping the age limit.

 “We are holding a grenade in our hands when we have removed a pin from it. Won’t it explode in our hands? Yes it will,” he said.

He urged Ugandans to be firm and promised that Uganda is heading towards an inevitable transition.

“Leaders should never be frustrated. People look towards you. You should separate light from darkness. Do not say there is nothing you can do to remove him [President Museveni] from power,” he said.

Asked if his meetings had been approved by the FDC party leadership, Ge Muntu said he had briefed Mr Amuriat before setting off to the field.

He said he was not conducting the consultations as an FDC official but out of courtesy he will keep the party informed about his activities and outcomes towards a common struggle to remove NRM from power.