By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
NATIONAL:
Mwijukye Moses Ntanda, the former Mitooma District Chairperson candidate on the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party has declined to pick nomination forms as the party flag bearer in the forthcoming EALA MP elections.
Ntanda who had since October last year expressed interests to hold FDC flag in the election has decided to run on independent ticket citing out inconsistencies within the party.
FDC kicked off the internel nomination processes to select party flag bearers for MP EALA election 2022/2027 on Monday. The exercise started with two days picking of nomination forms by interested candidates and by close of Business on Tuesday January 25, more than six candidates had expressed interest. The forms are expected to be returned on Thursday January 27 and Friday January 28, with collected signatures from members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) therafter, voting exercise will be conducted on February 8.
On Monday, Parrots UG held an online interview with Ntanda on his expression of candidature but promised to share with us details of the same soon after a meeting he was to conduct that evening.
“We have a meeting this evening as a campaign team. I will update you,” Ntanda told Parrots UG in a WhatsApp interview.
A meeting was finally conducted and Ntanda expressed disatisfaction with the procedures of collecting signatures prompting him to announce plans to contest as an independent candidate.
According to a statement from the Ntanda Campaign Team, the meeting resolved that their candidate runs as independent after realising that he will not be able to collect the signatures required by the party since most of the NEC members do not reside within Kampala.
“The FDC says that nomination papers must be signed by at least five NEC members and each member signs for one candidate. These NEC members are not residents of Kampala thus need to be traced from their homes. It is not possible for our candidate to move across the entire country to collect signatures”, read excerpts of the statement
They added; “It is thus regrettable to inform you that our candidate will now go as ana independent candidate.”
Several other reports however, allege that Ntanda’s decision to run as independent candidate has an external hand by some officials within the NRM like the Chief Whip, Thomas Tayebwa who is also the former’s area MP in Ruhinda North county Mitooma District.
It is alleged that the Tayebwa has on several occassions held private meetings with the Ntanda family led by a one Asaph Ntanda, a renown FDC staunch supporting family in greater Ruhinda county seducing them to join the ruling NRM in exchange for fatty government jobs.
The family had declined different offers including the speculated appointment as Deputy RDC to Moses Ntanda, which he denied.
Close sources to Thomas Tayebwa told Parrots UG that he is in the final touches of uprooting the Ntanda family to NRM starting with Moses Ntanda whose candidature to MP EALA he is secretly funding
“Moses Ntanda is likely to get fat job in government. They wanted to give him a post of Deputy RDC, he refused and said he want full but any time he’s getting even more than that; ” anonymous source told Parrots UG.
At least 10 candiidates have picked forms of expression at the FDC headquarters Najjanankumbi, Kampala expressing interests in vying for MP EALA.
Furthermore, our reporter attempted to reach out to FDC Secretary General, Hon. Nandala Mafabi for a comment on Moses Ntanda’s decision to go against party constitution and run as an independent candidate. But, he could not pick up our calls.
FULL LIST OF FDC ASPIRANTS WHO HAVE PICKED NOMINATION FORMS BY 25TH JANUARY 2022 AT THE HQs FOR EALA PRIMARY ELECTION
1. Dr. Joseph Tindyebwa – Deputy Secretary General (Research)
2. Harold Kaija – Deputy Secretary General (Admin)
3. Wante Jamal – FDC District Chairman (Namutumba)
4. Nanyonjo Suzan (Deputy Secretary for Culture, Ethics and Religious Affairs
5. Muwonge Dan – Secretary for Presidency
6. Seruwuge Yasin – Former FDC MP candidate (Bukoto South)
7. Musoke Vincent – Former LCV councilor candidate (Rubaga Division North)
8. Barigye Bob Div. Councilor (Upper Kololo)
9. Vivian Sentamu – EC Deputy Supervisor Kyadondo
10. Kimera Charles – Former MP Candidate (Busiro East)
Nomination dates are Thursday 27th and Friday 28th February 2022.
