By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
The National Chairman of the FDC, Ambassador Wasswa Birigwa has wagged his finger at the party apparatchiks for causing turmoil in the FDC.
He was on Thursday (July 20) blocked by some party officials at the headquarters in Najjanankumbi from holding a press conference after they locked him for close to eight hours.
Bigirwa was to clarify on the suspension of the forthcoming party elections among other several issues the FDC. However, the conference was sabotaged and journalists blocked from accessing the premises by young bodied and energetic youths popularly known as Bouncers / Kifaces manning the premises. He is accused of attempting to takeover the duties of the party EC by suspending elections
As demand for the release of Ambassador Birigwa shot up, a gang of over 40 goons allegedly commanded by president Amuriat who was present at the party offices attacked and assaulted journalists, breaking and damaging their equipments and stealing three mobile phones. One journalist, Ainembabazi Nowamani – intern reporter with the New Vision was brutally assaulted and her iphone stolen.
Earlier on, several other leaders like the Buhweju county member of parliament, Francis Mwijukye we’re also denied access to the premises. Mwijukye said he is displeased to Amuriat for physically kidnapping chairman Birigwa and blocking members access to their party premises.
At about 6:18pm, Bigirwa escaped from the premises by jumping over a perimeter wall and jumped into a waiting vehicle that drove him away to his home.
Speaking to journalists shortly after his narrow escape, Bigirwa accused Amuriat and SG Nandala Mafabi of hooliganism behaviours to block him and journalists from holding the conference.
He insisted that party structure elections for villages upto district level that were scheduled between tomorrow Friday 21 and 23rd July, will not take place.
“There will be no elections until the National Council meeting is convened to find the way forward,” he said
Patrick Oboi Amuriat, the party president while appearing on the Next Radio Big apologized to journalists on their attack.
“The phones of the Journalists that were stolen will be found. I was very tough on the people who took those phones and we have asked our security people to find out who took the phones and they will be returned,” he said.
Also, the party Secretary General Nathan Nandala Mafabi apologized to journalists on the uncultured events at Najjanankumbi on Thursday.
“I want to apologize for what happened to the journalists in Najjankumbi. It’s unfortunate that I wasn’t there…” Mafabi said while appearing on the NBS television Frontline show on Thursday night.
