KAMPALA – Forum for Democratic Change – FDC is still battling disagreements on dirty money in which one faction blames the other for obtaining money from President Yoweri Museveni.
During a special sitting of the National Council gathered at the party headquarters in Najjanankumbi on July 28, the Elders Committee that investigated the allegations of “evil money” dismissed the accusations, noting that the accusers did not table enough evidence of the alleged source.
Speaking to the press on Monday, the party’s founding president Dr Kizza Besigye, dismissed a report, asserting that it made no sincere effort to ascertain the origin of the alleged illicit funds worth Shs300m.
Dr Besigye accused FDC Secretary General Nandala Mafabi of spreading falsehoods regarding the purpose of the 300 million shillings he provided, refuting Mafabi’s claim that the funds were intended for party agents in 2020.
“Hon Nathan Nandala Mafabi told a lie when he said that he had given me Shs300 million for polling agents. He told me the money was his and he wanted to hide it from URA since he had debts with them, and that they [URA] would confiscate it…,” he said.
“The Elders Committee Report did not attempt at all to find the facts. What I emphasized to them is not in the records of what I told them. Somewhere in the report it says that Hon. Nandala was the one who lent the money to the party. They didn’t even ask him how much he lent. It was too sensitive to be asked,” he said.
On Wednesday morning, the Elders also addressed the media at the party headquarters, defending their findings.
Dr Frank Nabwiso – the Chairperson of the FDC Elders Committee noted that Dr. Besigye didn’t disclose to them the name of his informer from State House about the dirty money as he claims.
“Dr Kizza Besigye, the first president of FDC, whom we have high respect for, described our report as not being worthy of the paper it was written on. According to him, even the paper we wrote was useless.”
“If Hon. Mafabi had deposited the UGX 300 million elsewhere, for example, if he had hidden it in my house, would have I gone out to say I have this money? Would Dr Besigye have known and initiated this saga?”
Dr. Nabwiso noted that Amuriat admitted to them that he indeed obtained UGX 280 million from Mafabi for his presidential campaign. He said that Mafabi was authorised to borrow money for the party and he complied.
“It is also true that the money that Nandala took to Dr. Besigye was not the same money that Dr. Besigye gave back to FDC.”
According to him, “Some people may be whispering the wrong messages to Dr. Kizza Besigye to destroy his legacy in this country.”
He, however, said that he is not much bothered with the refusal of their report by some members because “We are also aware that even World Bank reports have been criticized by different scholars and ordinary analysts. So our report is not perfect, and none of us who wrote it is perfect.”
Dr Nabwiso noted that what is happening today in FDC is also happening in other political parties. “NRM has two Presidential candidates, the father and the son.”
He also said that UPC has two Presidents, the son of the late Dr. Obote and Peter Mafabi, and DP has two factions, one led by Mao and another by Lulume Bayigga.
“We are scared such things we are going through might happen in NUP.”
He said that the opposition in Uganda needs to copy Kenya and form political alliances to fight against dictatorial rule.
“This release is our clarion call and humble appeal to all FDC leaders in different corners of Uganda to stop washing our political underwear in the public and confusing innocent members at the grassroots.”
This comes shortly after the party Secretary General, Nandala Mafabi, dropped Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda for Yusuf Nsibambi, the Mawokota South MP, as the Party Whip, something that portrays further gap widening amongst party leaders.
