The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) faction based in Najjanankumbi has strongly criticized the Katonga faction for its recent move to dissolve the FDC and establish a new political party. Last week, prominent members of the Katonga faction, including former Leader of Opposition in Parliament Wafula Oguttu, ex-FDC chief mobilizer Ingrid Turinawe, former Kioga legislator B’ Leo Ojok, Albert Charles Okello Oduman, and Kenneth Geoffrey Opoka, submitted a letter to the Electoral Commission reserving the name, colors, and slogan for their newly formed political entity, the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF).
The leaders of the PFF, many of whom are senior members of the FDC, have stated that the creation of this new party is intended to dissolve the FDC.
In a sharp response, John Kikonyogo, spokesperson for the FDC Najjanankumbi faction, asserted that the Katonga group lacks the legal authority to dissolve the FDC, which has been one of the most formidable opposition parties to President Museveni’s government. Speaking to reporters in Kampala on Monday, Kikonyogo emphasized that the Najjanankumbi faction remains committed to its mission of uniting Ugandans and bringing about change, despite attempts to undermine its efforts.
“The Katonga group lacks the legal standing to dissolve FDC, and we suggest they focus on registering their new party. We welcome their decision to form a new entity, just like Hon. Betty Olive Namisango Kamya and Gen. Muntu did before them. FDC remains committed to its mission of uniting Ugandans and delivering change. We will not be deterred by attempts to undermine us,” Kikonyogo stated.
Kikonyogo’s argument is grounded in a court ruling from September last year, when High Court Judge Esther Nambayo issued an interim injunction blocking the Extraordinary National Delegates Conference that the FDC Katonga faction had scheduled for September 19, 2023. The ruling came after the FDC Najjanankumbi faction sought legal action to prevent the conference, which aimed to elect new FDC leadership.
The Najjanankumbi faction later planned its own delegates conference on October 6, 2023, which the Katonga faction also attempted to block through the courts. However, Justice Musa Ssekaana dismissed the Katonga faction’s petition, allowing the Najjanankumbi faction to proceed with their National Delegates Conference at Patidar Samaj—Lugogo Grounds, where new national leaders, including Hon. Jack Sabiiti, were elected. Sabiiti replaced Amb. Wasswa Biriggwa as the Party National Chairman.
“This pivotal ruling validated the legality of our leadership and existence. Notably, the Katonga group did not contest the ruling. Subsequently, the National Delegates Conference that was held on October 6th, 2023, at Patidar Samaj-Lugogo grounds, where new national leaders were elected, including Hon. Jack Sabiiti, who replaced Amb. Wasswa Biriggwa as Party National Chairman,” Kikonyogo noted.
He added that the names of the elected leaders were submitted to the Electoral Commission for certification, further solidifying the party’s legitimate leadership.
According to the FDC constitution, the power to call delegates to conferences is vested in the party’s national chairman. Before the internal conflict within the FDC began, Wasswa Birigwa, now aligned with the Katonga faction, served as the party chairman. Despite the court ruling, the Katonga faction held its own delegates conference, which Kikonyogo described as illegal due to the court’s prior injunction. He also called on Birigwa to cease functioning as the FDC national chairman.