We’ve no working relationship with FDC, says Gen Muntu

As talks of an opposition coalition continue, the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), says it doesn’t have any working relationship with the Forum for Democratic Party (FDC) until they reach a point when they are sure that they can trust them.

The ANT national coordinator and founder Maj Gen (Rtd) Mugisha Muntu told journalists at their offices during an induction training of party coordinators in Buganda that they share all their programmes with all forces of change with the exception of FDC.

He said they are working closely with the Democratic Party (DP), Justice Forum (JEEMA) and People Power movement but not FDC.
Muntu quit Uganda’s largest opposition party last year after failing to agree with a faction of FDC members on the kind of strategy that they need to oust President Museveni.
Gen Muntu emphasized development of structures while a faction of FDC strongly believed and still does, in defiance. He then formed ANT on March 19, 2019 as an opposition political party. ANT received its certificate of registration as a Political Party from the Electoral Commission on April 25, 2019.

Gen Muntu says ANT has nothing against FDC but the two have not reached a time to work together. He says the two will start operating together formally at later stages when FDC starts trusting ANT.

“We work closely with DP, People Power, JEEMA. We keep briefing them because we want to build smooth relationships with them and maintain them. The only party which we don't work with at a formal level is FDC. We will work on that relationship over a period of time at a point when we are sure they can trust us,” Gen Muntu said.

He however said although the two parties have no working relationship, ANT respects the decisions and strategies of FDC. He asked members of his party to respect FDC even when they are provoked by some FDC members.
Gen Muntu was recently criticized for declining to sign a petition to the International Criminal Court against President Museveni as initiated by the People's Government led by Rtd Col Dr Kiiza Besigye.

Gen Muntu says that as leaders, they have to exercise restraint despite provocation, adding that silence isn’t a moral issue but rather a strategy.
"It is sensitive because if you're a leader, you have to be careful about what you say because once you say something, you cannot retract it. If you're not careful, it can frustrate people and cause a sense of hopelessness. So we have to train ourselves. That's one thing we want to tell ANT; let’s train ourselves. Let's ensure that we discipline ourselves. We don't just want to take power but we also want to change the nature of politics in this country. It is not just a question of being nice but a strategic consideration,” he added.

Gen Muntu says ANT is ready to work with all forces of opposition even in forming a coalition. Asked if he would let another person lead in a coalition, he said it’s too early to discuss that before even ANT votes a flag bearer.
Gen Muntu believes that if ANT is well grounded at the lower level, they can be able to influence how issues run in government even when they don’t take the presidency.
Nevertheless, some of the members, say that as ANT engages with other parties, it should be the head.

ANT Central region coordinator Ssewava Sserubiri says that even during a coalition with other parties, the ANT President should lead the opposition not the other way round.
However, John Kikonyogo, the Deputy FDC Spokesperson told this reporter in a phone interview that they are open to all forces of change and have nothing against ANT.
“FDC holds no distrust whatsoever against ANT and is ready to engage even in the coalition talks fronted by DP even when ANT is part of it, he said before adding that currently, they have no formal working relationship.