A bitter rift has emerged amongst members of FRONASA- the Front for National Salvation in Isingiro district over the national leadership of the association. The Front for National Salvation (FRONASA) was a Ugandan rebel group formed by Yoweri Museveni in 1972. Over 200 former FRONASA fighters in Isingiro district accuse their top leadership of running the association like a family business.
The disgruntled former fighters say that they are poorly represented on the National Executive Committee. They argue that despite contributing the largest number of paid up members, the people the veterans in Isingiro lack representation on the top leadership. Isingiro district has 200 registered members, Kiruhura 26 and Mbarara 39.
Bashiru Kabegera, a veteran from Ngarama Bukanga in Isingiro district says that despite putting in a lot of effort they have been sidelined by their comrades from Rwampara County, who consist the majority on the National Executive Committee.
5 of the 7 seats on the National Executive Committee are occupied by fighters from Rwampara County.
Kabegera says that failure to share out the posts equally is threatening to divide their association. Specioza Nyakato, another FRONASA member wants their national chairman Apollo Mabati alias Mubarak to convene the general assembly immediately to pave way for fresh elections of new leaders.
Vieny Ngoma Matovu, the national Political Commissar of FRONASA wonders why the veterans in Isingiro have been sidelined yet they played a vital role to topple Iddi Amin’s government.
//Cue in: “block out long…//
Cue out...affecting fighters.//
Sergeant Apollo Mabati, the national chairman of FRONASA admits receiving complaints of marginalization from members of Isingiro district, adding he will ensure their grievances are ironed out immediately.
//Cue in: “this is the…//
Cue out…are weak//
On Tuesday, the national executive of FRONASA resolved to convene a delegates conference at Tundu farm along the Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda boarder where Museveni launched his liberation struggle. Mabati says that they will use the delegate’s conference to elect new leaders for the national executive and other committees such as the SACCO, welfare and women veterans.
He says that they expect all FRONASA members across the country to attend the delegate’s conference, where they will also launch a fifth term bid for Museveni.
