By David Serumaga
Currently, each corner of Uganda smells the increasing political smoke amidst the novel coronavirus pandemic that has continued to affect human life globally.
In a period like this, one would think that no political party would lose its members more so the big horns, decision makers, founders, funders and representatives but what we are seeing in FDC is frightening. So far within two weeks, the strongest opposition political party, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has lost over fifteen Members of Parliament who exited the blue shaking FDC party to other political parties.
Additionally, FDC has lost over 80% of its leaders and supporters in Eastern Uganda who have been persuaded by the National Resistance Movement (NRM), Vice Chairperson Eastern, Capt. Mike Mukula to cross to NRM. One will say that people have a right to join and exit FDC, but as a person who believes in togetherness and team building, I would ask, why has FDC failed to resolve its internal matters or unite with its MPs or supporters?
What happened on one of the local political shows when the FDC Party Secretary General, Hon. Nathan Nandala Mafabi, embarrassed his fellow FDC member the Kampala Woman MP, Nabilah Naggayi Sempala to an extent of asking her why she didn’t die if she was on sick- leave proved that once FDC is given state power, becoming sick will definitely lead people to die.
Besides, FDC’s continuous wrangles and exiting of its members, another political party NRM headed by Party Chairman Yoweri Kaguta Museveni was in State House Entebbe last week, reuniting and pardoning all MPs who disagreed with NRM. This scenario of pardoning the so-called rebel MPs reminded us of the “Parable of the Lost Son” (Luke 15:11-32) where a son had departed from his father after getting his share but later returned requesting to be pardoned which his father did and celebrated.
President Museveni, as a leader who believes in uniting, developing and strengthening the NRM party, saw it wise and forgave the so called ‘Rebel MPs’ who had deserted the Party ideologies. What we are seeing in both political camps shows which leader is aiming at building a nation using a political party as an example and a leader who doesn’t mind whether his party members leave or stay. As time goes by, FDC will follow other political parties who disappeared on the political scene.
Politics is about numbers, the more FDC swallows its pride and not mind about the departure of its members, the more likely it is to sink in the deep political lake and there will be a magical return requiring President Museveni’s intervention.
The writer is a Journalist and Political activist working with the Uganda Media Center
