FDC forms for top seat available this Friday
Nominations for the election of a new Federation for Democratic Change (FDC) party president start next week. Speaking at the party head offices in Kampala yesterday, the party Spokesperson, Mr Wafula Oguttu, said members interested in the seat are free to pick the nomination forms starting Friday this week from the party head offices until Saturday August 11.
Wafula Oguttu
“According to our constitution, all party members interested in contesting for the party presidency are free to come and pick the nomination forms. The whole election programme is starting on August 10 until November 22 when the new party president will be elected.”
Mr Oguttu added, “We are a strong party which believes in democracy and that is what we shall uphold in these elections.”
Late last year, the current FDC party president, Dr Kizza Besigye announced that he will relinquish the party presidency this year.
He said that his decision was driven by the fact that he wanted to create ample time for the next party leader to consolidate themselves in leadership early enough before the 2016 elections.
Mr Toterebuka Bamwenda, the party deputy spokesperson, earlier said that the initial process of filling the empty seats in the newly created districts had been done.
National council meeting
This was followed by the nomination of candidates and Mr Oguttu said that after the nominations, they will hold a national council meeting on August 25.
“At the national council meeting, we shall get the agenda for the delegates conference. We shall then hold the delegates conference and the party president elections on November 22 this year.”
However, Mr Oguttu added that Dr Kizza Besigye is free to stand on the FDC ticket in the 2016 presidential elections if he so wishes.
“It is not bad for Dr Besigye to ask for the party flag to use for the presidential seat in 2016 because it is allowed in our constitution.
However, he cannot run as the party president because by then he will have been replaced,” he said.
While there have not been confirmations, the following have been tipped to replace him; Mr Nandala Mafabi, Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu, Bugweri MP Abdu Katuntu, Aswa County MP Reagan Okumu, Kitgum Woman MP Beatrice Anywar and Ms Salaam Musumba.
By Sarah Tumwebaze, Daily Monitor
