No leader can substitute governance institution - Muntu
FDC president Mugisha Muntu is mobbed by his supporters at the party headquarters in Najjanankumbi, Kampala, before his nomination to contest for the party presidential flag bearer position yesterday. PHOTO BY ABUBAKER LUBOWA
KAMPALA.
The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) president, Maj Gen Mugisha Muntu has said no matter how strong a leader might be, they cannot substitute the institution they represent.
Maj Gen Muntu made the remarks yesterday shortly after he was nominated to contest for the FDC presidential flag bearer at the party headquarters in Najjanakumbi, Kampala.
The former army commander, who started out by visiting the FDC supporter, who was shot by a police officer during Dr Besigye’s nomination on Wednesday, said he had spent the last 10 years building party structures with fruits of cohesiveness among party members already being reaped.
He said no individual, however good, can replace institutions. “However good an individual might be, he cannot substitute institutions, however large a tree might be, it cannot become a forest and so I have consistently pursued institutional building and organisation,” Maj Gen Muntu said.
He said the flag bearer competition will be an opportunity for FDC members to choose between different visions and approaches.
“This competition should not be about Muntu or Besigye. This competition should be about a winning system. This election should not be reduced to emotional attachments about individuals. Uganda needs a leader who says what he means and means what he says,” he said.
Before Maj Gen Muntu spoke, one of his supporters, Mr Abdul Katuntu, the Bugweri County MP, said: “For those of us who support football, if you field footballers and you are not winning, you change defenders and strikers.”
The nomination
Muntu's nomination certificate. Photo by Lubowa Abubaker
Serere County MP Stephen Ochola equated Dr Kizza Besigye whose supporters have branded the “people’s president” to the biblical Moses, who led the Israelites from Egypt and Maj Gen Muntu to the biblical Joshua who finally delivered them to the Promised Land.
After fulfilling the necessary requirements, Mr Dan Mugarura, the FDC Electoral Commission chairperson, announced Maj Gen Muntu as duly nominated and gave him a copy of the party policy agenda and constitution.
“Notice is hereby given that in the exercise conferred upon me by article 29(2) (a) and (d) of the party constitution, I declare as duly nominated Maj Gen (rtd) Mugisha Muntu candidate for the position of party flag bearer,” Mr Mugarura said.
FDC national chairman Wasswa Birigwa made a passionate appeal to FDC supporters to use the election to demonstrate unity and democracy in FDC.
“While one particular party has failed to have a democratic process, FDC is showing the world and Uganda that democracy must work and most importantly, that democracy is working in FDC,” Mr Birigwa said.
The former Uganda’s envoy to Japan added that unity must prevail in FDC no matter the outcome of the polls.
“What is important is not that Dr Besigye or Gen Muntu is standing but that FDC is standing,” he said.
