The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party finds itself embroiled in a deepening internal conflict as Ssemujju Nganda, the current FDC Whip in Parliament, responds to Speaker Anitah Among’s decision to block his dismissal. Nganda has launched scathing accusations against Nandala Mafabi, the FDC Secretary General, likening the party’s management to a “kiosk” and expressing his disappointment that such “lunacy” has infiltrated the hallowed halls of Parliament.
Nganda vehemently asserted that the decision to appoint him as FDC Whip was not made by Nandala Mafabi, but rather by Patrick Amuriat, who had recommended Betty Aol for the position. However, the National Executive Committee (NEC) rejected Aol’s appointment. Nganda emphasized that his position in Parliament was a result of the NEC’s endorsement and not Mafabi’s influence. He expressed his initial intention to spare Parliament from the “lunatic behavior” he perceived within the party’s ranks but lamented that they had brought it upon themselves, leading to their own embarrassment.
Furthermore, Nganda questioned the interpretation of the law by Yusuf Nsibambi, the MP for Mawokota South and the designated replacement for the FDC Whip position. Nganda accused Nsibambi of prematurely accepting the appointment and dismissed the significance of the role, stating that being a party whip in Parliament held no special importance. According to Nganda, the responsibilities of the whip, as outlined in the Administration of Parliament Act, primarily involve reminding MPs to attend sessions and designating MPs to committees on an annual basis. He questioned whether these duties were worth the intense controversy surrounding the position.
In response to the scrutiny of his legal understanding, Nsibambi, who is a lawyer by profession, defended his qualifications and experience in corporate governance. He emphasized that it was the FDC’s Working Committee that had appointed both Nganda and himself, and all members were required to abide by the party’s code and constitution. Nsibambi also highlighted that Nandala Mafabi, as the Secretary General, had the mandate to write to the Speaker and expressed hope that the matter would be resolved within the coming days.
The initial decision by Speaker Anita Among to block the controversial replacement of Ssemujju Nganda as FDC Whip in Parliament has sparked a rapidly escalating internal conflict within the party. Several FDC MPs, who opposed the decision, alleged that Nandala Mafabi had bypassed the Party’s National Executive Committee in making this significant change.
On August 7, 2023, Nandala Mafabi had officially informed Speaker Among through a letter about the FDC’s decision to replace Nganda with Yusuf Nsibambi, the MP for Mawokota South. Nsibambi, was poised to assume the role of the FDC party chief whip.
However, the decision was met with immediate resistance from a faction of FDC MPs, who accused Mafabi of disregarding consultation with them and the party’s National Executive Committee. They further alleged that Mafabi’s actions aimed to undermine Nganda’s leadership and influence both within Parliament and the party. READ MORE HERE
