Muntu speaks during a consultation meeting in Gulu town on Wednesday. Looking on is Gulu district chairman Martin Ojara Mapenduzi. Photo by David Okema.
GULU–Former Forum for Democratic change (FDC) president Gen. Mugisha Muntu has said his nationwide consultation meetings are not intended to paralyse the FDC party leadership but to build a counterforce.
Speaking during a consultation meeting at Gulu district council hall in Gulu town on Wednesday, Muntu said the views he is gathering from the consultation meetings will be shared with FDC current leadership under Patrick Amuriat Oboi.
He said his move aims at finding alternative measures that will enable the FDC party achieve its main objective of removing the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party from the power.
Muntu said change will be achieved through building a counterforce that will help prepare the country for a post-Museveni Uganda.
“There is need to start building a counter force. It may not be political because religious and cultural leaders as well as everybody who wants to see us have a stable country will play a key role,” Muntu said.
He urged people to borrow Democratic Party president Nobert Mao saying that “it is only ourselves that we have” meaning it is the responsibility of individuals to cause change in Uganda because nobody will fall from mars to change the government.
Muntu said he served the military for many years and he will never support military means as a measure of taking over power and that is why he is bent on building a counterforce as opposed to violence.
He also pointed out that the sense of desperation spilling from within the security institutions in the country symbolises the uncertainty Uganda is headed for and said there is need to find a common ground to hold the government together even when FDC is not yet in power.
Moses Abonga, FDC chairperson Gulu Municipality, noted that a post Museveni Uganda needs leaders of sound mind like Muntu.
Martin Ojara Mapenduzi, the Gulu district chairman, said it is difficult for leaders to enlist citizen support through violence, hostility and provocation.
He said those who want to use alternative strategies to cause change shouldn’t be barred from exercising their measures even if they wants to attach themselves to a party or not.
Walter Akena, a resident of Gulu town, argued that FDC party is not far from NRM because of the belief of presidential sole candidature in former presidential candidate, Dr. Kizza Besigye.
He added that it will become difficult for opposition parties, especially FDC, to take over power unless it steers clear of such belief because even if it succeeds, it will not be any different from the NRM that hassled the country for 32 years.
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