In a continuation of the ongoing internal dispute within the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party, Uganda’s Parliament has upheld its recognition of Mr. Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda as the party whip, in accordance with the party’s own rules for the appointment of officials. This decision adds to the challenges faced by the embattled FDC secretary general, Mr. Nathan Nandala Mafabi, who has twice attempted to replace Mr. Ssemujju without success.
The move comes just a day after Speaker Anita Among responded to Mr. Mafabi’s August 7 letter, in which he nominated Yusuf Nsibambi as the new whip. The Speaker had received a petition from nine members of the FDC party caucus in Parliament, disputing the unilateral removal of Mr. Ssemujju and arguing that it lacked the approval of FDC’s National Executive Committee (NEC).
Mr. Mafabi’s response to the Speaker’s concerns regarding the legitimacy of the change was deemed insufficient by a House spokesperson. As a result, Mr. Ssemujju will continue to serve as the FDC whip until a unified stance is presented to the Parliament. Mr. Chris Obore, the director of public affairs at Parliament, emphasized the need for clarity, stating that Parliament finds itself in a state of confusion due to conflicting accounts.
Obore explained, “Mafabi initially wrote to the Speaker without providing evidence of the party organ meeting. Now, with evidence in hand, his account contradicts what the party MPs presented in their petition.” He suggested that the party’s internal matters should be resolved without involving the Speaker.
Mr. Mafabi responded to the Speaker’s letter, asserting that the working committee of the party’s NEC holds the authority to appoint leadership within Parliament. He cited specific instances of appointments made by the committee and referred to relevant provisions in the FDC constitution. However, the constitution does not explicitly establish the working committee’s status regarding the NEC.
The ongoing dispute revolves around the interpretation of internal procedures, party constitution clauses, and the political parties regulations. While the FDC constitution does mention the working committee of NEC, it remains silent on its authority to appoint parliamentary leaders. Similarly, the organs mentioned in the petition do not explicitly possess the mandate to elect parliamentary leaders.
The internal rift within the FDC highlights the challenges of balancing party regulations with parliamentary procedures and the role of party leadership in decision-making. The situation underscores the need for a harmonized resolution to the internal dispute, free from the intervention of parliamentary proceedings.
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