Former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) President Maj Gen (Rtd) Mugisha Muntu has hinted at “separating” with the strongest opposition party if the decision will serve for the good of the party.
Muntu said that he is set to consult widely on the issues affecting FDC before he makes a final decision.
But he did not rule out the possibility of separating from the party that he joined about 13 years ago.
Muntu made the statement on Friday as he handed over the Presidency of FDC to his successor Patrick Oboi Amuriat who defeated him in the recently concluded elections. The event was held at the party headquarters in Najjanankumbi.
Following his loss, Muntu had announced that he would take a ‘difficult decision’ sparking off speculation within the public that he intended to quit FDC. Given his long disagreement with the ideology of defiance as championed by strongman Dr. Kizza Besigye, many argue that Muntu’s soft approach to politics can’t thrive in FDC.
Days later at a news conference, he ruled out the formation of a new political party despite admitting that FDC had internal problems.
However, in his handover speech, Muntu seemed to veer off from his earlier position.
He said he hoped that the party would move together, but “even if there is a situation where we find that we have to separate, Hon. Oboi, let there be no personal issues in this matter”.
Drawing a Biblical story, Muntu added; “It is not only enemies who separate, no, those of you who read the Bible, there is a story of Ibrahim and Lot, they reached a point and they had to separate for the good of their people”.
He still insists he won’t make a decision in the heat of the moment, to avoid the influence of emotions, anger or frustration. Should the decision be to separate with the FDC, he appealed for a common cause of transforming Uganda.
“If it comes to that [separation], I pray that we remain sharing the same sentiments, one the transformation of the country which we can not transform unless you take power,” he said.
“I will want to help, even if it means we separate, I will still want to work with you because our objective is the same,” he told Amuriat adding that “be careful about the people you are going to be working with and be firm.”
While some critics in FDC have labelled him a mole working with the ruling party, Muntu insists his openness and patience are being misconstrued. He says only time will reveal which camp he falls in.
