The National Executive Committee of the Forum Democratic Change plans to meet to review its relationship with other political parties.
Toterebuka Bamwenda, the deputy party spokesperson says the NEC meeting is scheduled to sit next week on Wednesday. He states that all opposition parties have been working informally.
The FDC is still angry that Uganda People’s Congress and the Democratic Party went ahead to nominate candidates for the East African Legislative Assembly—EALA elections. This was in spite an agreement on the 22nd of May that they shall not nominate candidates for EALA until the Rules of the Uganda Parliament were brought into line with Article 50 of East African Treaty.
FDC is still waiting for the Judges of the East African Court of Justice to return from Sweden on the June 8 to set a hearing date for the matter.
Bamwenda reveals that the Democratic Party President Norbert Mao had been tasked to draft the memorandum of understanding on how parties shall relate both within and outside Parliament.
It would also guide them on how to work together ahead of the EALA elections.
He says as FDC, they had agreed to cooperate and work with other opposition parties because they all seek the same goal against the ruling National Resistance Movement.
Bamwenda says NEC shall sit to review with individuals of UPC and the DP and the leadership of oversight committees.
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Today, Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Nandala Mafabi in a statement stressed that they shall deal with other opposition parties represented in Parliament strictly on principle and agreed rules of engagement.
He noted that there are members in those parties who believe in genuine change that this country deserves.
Nandala described the UPC and DP’s actions as an abuse of trust and unprincipled hunger for political office and its trappings. He adds that it was an indirect show of support to the NRM while ditching the unity forged by the opposition.
He also described the act as a case of preaching water by day but gulping wine in the night.
Nandala however says before they review their stand with opposition parties, they must help Ugandans know who is genuinely opposed to NRM’s excesses and who is masquerading in the Opposition while in reality is working to help the NRM achieve its ill intentions.
The leader of opposition states that they need to build politics of principle, commitment and sacrifice.
Augustine Ruzindana, FDC Secretary for research says he agrees to work together when there is a common level playing field. However, when it comes to having candidates, they should be partisan.
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