A faction within the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has announced plans to dissolve the party and convert its assets into a startup fund for a new political entity. This decision was reached during a National Delegates’ Conference convened in Kampala by Ambassador Waswa Birigwa, who claims the court recognizes him as the substantive FDC national chairman, granting him the authority to summon such meetings.
The splinter group, including notable figures such as founding President Kizza Besigye, has been at odds with the current FDC leadership at the party’s headquarters in Najjanankumbi, led by President Patrick Oboi Amuriat and Secretary General Nandala Mafabi. The split emerged following accusations that Amuriat and Mafabi received funds from State House to compromise the party ahead of the 2021 elections, allegations both leaders have denied.
During the conference, which was reportedly attended by 800 delegates, Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, acting president of the FDC splinter group, announced the beginning of a process to dissolve the party within six months. Lukwago reassured the public that until the dissolution is finalized, they remain members of FDC, stating, “I am the Lord Mayor of Kampala on an FDC ticket and so are other leaders, including our Members of Parliament.”
However, the leadership at Najjanankumbi questioned the legitimacy of the Katonga faction and their resolutions. Hassan Kaps Fungaro, FDC’s deputy president for northern Uganda, criticized the move, arguing that only the legally registered party headquarters in Najjanankumbi, with Secretary General Mafabi at the helm, holds the authority to make such decisions. Fungaro dismissed the issue as a power struggle rather than a matter of “dirty money.”
The Katonga faction claims that 99 percent of the delegates at their conference supported the resolution to disband FDC and form a new political party, which has yet to be named. They plan to notify the National Electoral Commission, aiming to secure the required support from two-thirds of Uganda’s districts to move forward with their plan.
FDC, established on August 7, 2004, has faced internal strife, with accusations of state infiltration and a departure from its original mission of uniting Uganda and empowering its people. Besigye, reflecting on the party’s history, accused the government of undermining opposition efforts but expressed confidence in their long-term impact.
As the FDC prepares for what could be a defining moment in its history, the party’s president, Patrick Amuriat, hinted that their response to the splinter group would be forthcoming, depending on the faction’s actions in the coming days. Meanwhile, the new FDC national chairman, Jack Sabiiti, emphasized that the party would remain guided by its constitution and ideologies, dismissing the efforts of the splinter group as futile.
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