By Denis Turyahebwa
In a major setback to the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), over 60 senior party leaders in Ankole Sub-region have tendered in the resignation of their party leadership positions.
The leaders handed in their resignation letters on Friday declaring that they are now part of Gen. Mugisha Muntu’s ‘New Formation.’
“We, the FDC leaders of Ankole sub-region gathered here, hereby inform members of the press and the general public that with effect from today, we have officially resigned our leadership positions in FDC party and have therefore ceased to be members of Forum for Democratic Change,” said part of the joint resignation letter.
“Going forward, we officially declare that we will be part of ‘The New Formation’ a political platform in the process of forming a new political party by 25th December 2018,” declared the group..
Those who quit the party include Maj (Rtd) John Basahija Kazoora (Secretary for Mobilization, Information, and Publicity in Mbarara district), Betty Nuwamanya (General Secretary Kashari Constituency) Anthony Rutawaire (Chairperson Isingiro North constituency), Daniel Kafureeka (General Secretary Mbarara District) and Mary Francis Kabataraine (Chairperson Mbarara Municipality)
Others include George Karamira (Chairperson Ntungamo District) Evelyne Kansiime (Women Chairperson, Sheema District) Kyankanga Rodney (Youth mobiliser Sheema district) Denis Ndyabutunga (Chairman Electoral Commission Kiruhura District) and Sadrack Atuhaire (Chairman Kashogyi Constituency).
Anthony Rutahweire the Isingiro District New Formation coordinator said the numbers leaving the party could be even higher, following the irreconcilable differences that marred the party during and after the 2017 party presidential elections
The leaders revealed that they took the decision after they had weighed in all options and that a significant number of people who believed in both strategies felt uncomfortable in perusing a sole strategy as a means of capturing power and transforming the nation.
“As leaders, we have tried everything humanly possible to engage our fellow leaders from defiance group on how best we can harmonise these tendencies and be within the party but all efforts yielded no fruits,” Rutahweire said.
The group on Friday also unveiled ‘The New Formation’ office in Mbarara Town which will be coordinating the party’s activities.
In September this year, Mugisha Muntu, now the New Formation patron stated that he quit FDC due to ideological differences.
He stressed that ‘defiance’ ideology cannot be achieved without building party structures adding that he was forced to quit due to internal turmoil in the party.
“I was abused, I was undermined but I kept working for the party,” he stated.
The FDC Chairperson for Mbarara Municipality Stanley Katembeyi said the departing members came with a mission that they failed to achieve.
“They came with a mission after failing to achieve it, they had to leave, let them go with Muntu and be sold to NRM, we are not threatened FDC will remain a strong party no matter what,” he said.
