By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
Forum for Democratic Change Electoral Commission Chairperson, Hon. Boniface Toterebuka Bamwenda has denied claims that he is on mission to weaken the party by working for Secretary General Hon. Nathan Nandala Mafabi and party president, Eng. Patrick Oboi Amuriat.
Electoral rifts started snipping between the Katonga and Najjanankumbi FDC facts on September 19 when the Katonga group suspended the Leadership of SG Nandala, president Amuriat and Treasurer General Hon. Geoffrey Ekanya at an extraordinary delegates conference.
The group further set aside “fraudulent elections” organized by the Bamwenda and resolved to put in place an interim Electoral body to oversee,organize and conduct fresh elections. This further deepened conflicts in the party with the former accusing the electoral commission chairperson Bamwenda of being a pocket wallet of Nandala and POA.
Addressing journalists at Najjanankumbi on Monday October 2, however, Bamwenda said an independent civilian who cannot be used by anybody.
“Nobody uses me in this country. Museveni has never appointed me not even this bogus government of Dr. Kizza Besigye. I am completely an independent citizen in this republic who has pursued politics and elections right from 1980,” said Toterebuka
“… I am not a product of anybody. I am a self-made person to this level even within this party.”
He said its by surprise that some individuals within the party are doubting his credibility to hold a free and fair elections stating that he is not the first electoral chairperson to receive opposition.
FDC will elect NEC leaders on October 6 during the National Delegates Conference due on October 6 at Patidar Samaj Sports Grounds. A total number of 1271 voters from 123 districts that participated in the party structure elections are eligible to vote.
They fdc district chairpersons, Secretary Generals, secretaries for publicity, women’s league chairpersons and youth secretaries. At the constituency levels, invited voters are chairperson, Secretary General of whom one must be a female. They will be accredited on Thursday October 5 prior to conference date.
The EC committed themselves to conduct a free and fair election.
“We are prepared to handle this election with maximum respect of the FDC electoral guidelines and party constitution.” FDC EC pledged.
The term of office for all Successful candidates will run up to the end of 2028.
