FDC cautions Byamugisha against working outside party structures

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has agreed with their former party presidential candidate Moses Byamugisha to follow the constitution while handling matters of the party.

Byamugisha 34, was today appearing before the FDC Youth League contrary to the prior summons where he was expected to appear before the party’s Working Committee to explain why he has been conducting unauthorised mobilisation meetings and consultation in higher institutions of learning on behalf of the party.

On Friday, FDC Secretary General Nandala Mafabi noted that Byamugisha was moving around the country ‘mobilising’ in universities under the guise of the FDC Youth League.

“As a party member, you are aware that all activities in the party are originated and sanctioned by the relevant party organs. As a matter of fact, the Youth League is completely out of touch with your ongoing activities,” read part of the statement.

The statement further noted that from the date of issue, Byamugisha was requested to halt all his activities which were being done on behalf of the party in in the higher institutions of learning until after the scheduled meeting with him.

While appearing before the top leadership of the Youth League but chaired by the party President Patrick Oboi Amuriat at the party headquarters in Najjanakumbi, the members agreed with Byamugisha to operate within the confines of the Constitution of FDC so as to maintain cohesion of the party.

According to Amuriat, it was not the responsibility of Byamugisha to go mobilising independently in Universities on behalf of the party without authorisation.

He says however, from the meeting, they have agreed with Byamugisha to follow the constitution to avoid feuding.

According to Byamugisha, they have had a lengthy discussion about the roles of various departments in the party, general mobilisation of the party and how an individual can engage in the activities of the party.

He however says that at the end of the day, they have agreed that if he is to mobilise, he should submit his mobilisation programmes to the respective party organs so that it becomes a collective responsibility for all the members.

He says, in other words he has been given a go ahead provided he informs the respective organs.

Asked about his exact intentions of mobilisation, Byamugisha has told Uganda Radio Network that between January and May, most of the institutions normally hold Guild elections and therefore he wanted to share his political experience with the members of FDC Chapters in various institutions so as to inspire them.

He also argued that students have unique problems which mean that at times, they need to be guided on how to solve them.

Before his mobilisation was halted, he had met various FDC University Chapter members from many institutions in less than two months.

They include; Bishop Barham University, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Makerere University, Kyambogo University, Gulu University, Makerere University Business School, Mountains of the Moon University and Muteesa I Royal University.

Others are Kampala International University, Uganda Pentecostal University, Valley University of Science, Bishop Stuart University, Uganda Technical College Bushenyi and Buhinga Technical Institute.

Byamugisha, a former youth parliamentary contestant for Western Uganda, becomes the second member of FDC party whose mobilisation activities have been halted.

Last year, the former FDC President Gen Mugisha Muntu was stopped from doing consultative meetings and mobilisation.

However, the Deputy Secretary General of the party, Harold Kaija, says the reason Muntu wasn’t summoned to appear before the Party’s working Committee is because he was doing his personal consultations not political consultations.