FDC Releases Election Roadmap Amidst Internal Conflicts

The National Executive Committee (NEC) elections that the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party will hold soon will be conducted according to a schedule that has been released.

John Kigonyogo, the party’s deputy spokesperson, told reporters yesterday at their office in Najjanankumbi that the picking of applications for every position will begin on September 8 and end on September 12.

34 positions on the NEC will be filled by the party, including those of the president, four vice presidents, national chairman, four other regional chairs, general secretary, and general treasurer.

In addition, there are roles for a secretary for legal matters, a secretary for women’s and youth issues, a secretary for individuals with disabilities, and a secretary for communication and publicity.

All posts, from the President to the secretary for elders, are expected to be filled by October, according to Mr. Kigonyongo. “The nominations for our NEC members are about to start,” he added.

The party expects all candidates who will pick forms to deliver them between September 13 and September 16. For all posts outside of the party’s cabinet, this is a must.

According to FDC between September 17 and 18, the candidates for the cabinet (working committee), which includes the party president and his four deputies, chairpersons, secretary general, treasurer, and their deputies, are anticipated to return their applications.

Two days before the current leadership’s term ends, on October 6, at the UMA Show Grounds, the party will have its National Delegates Conference, at which NEC members will be chosen.

According to reliable sources, Mr. Patrick Amuriat, the party’s president, is eligible for reelection but has not expressed a desire to do so.

In the meantime, Mr. Amuriat has called Mr. Wasswa Birigwa, the party chairman, to another meeting to reconcile the two conflicting party delegate conferences.

The gathering is scheduled for Wednesday at the Najjanankumbi headquarters of the party.

Mr. Kigonyogo claims that Mr. Birigwa will have the opportunity to defend the need for the meeting considering that the party is already holding elections for the national Executive Committee leadership.

He stated that the party would be forced to move forward with the national leadership elections in October if Mr. Birigwa failed to appear.

Last week, Mr. Birigwa was scheduled to meet with Amuriat, but he failed to show up. He stated he was meeting with his team and will appear at a press conference when called yesterday.

After it was revealed that there would be two competing national delegates conferences, one called by Mr. Birigwa and the other by the head of the party electoral committee, the crisis within the party grew worse.

Although the two conferences have different purposes, they both need substantial resources to host more than 1,700 delegates from all around the nation. Party followers were left in the dark about the two conflicting occurrences as a result.

Reports from the party president, secretary general, and treasurer general are on the agenda for the emergency session that Mr. Biriggwa has summoned.

Plenary sessions, resolutions, and adjournments will come next.