State Minister designate for ICT and national guidance, Joyce Nabbosa Ssebugwawo has been expelled from her political party Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) following her appointment as Minister by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
Ssebugwawo, who prior to 2021 general elections, served as the Rubaga Division Chairperson, is a former minister in the government of Buganda Kingdom and FDC Deputy President Buganda region.
President Museveni on Tuesday appointed her to replace Peter Ogwang as State Minister of ICT and National Guidance. It was unclear how her political party FDC would react to the development.
On Thursday, party President Patrick Oboi Amuriat revealed that the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) will soon meet and decide on the replacement. He said had not yet officially notified the party on whether she’s leaving or not but said ”her name appearing on President Museveni’s list means she was consulted and is likely to accept the offer.”
FDC Secretary General, Nandala Mafabi on Thursday while appearing on NBS television said he had not received any communication from Ssebugwawo in regards to her appointment as Minister. He was however quick to note that she will cease being a member of FDC if she accepted it.
“We are happy at Najjanankumbi (FDC headquarters) otherwise it would be very dangerous if she pretended to be with us when her mind is wanting to serve in NRM but since she has come out, it is a good thing, it is her choice, we wish her well. FDC is not a prison, it is free entry free exit,” Mafabi said.
But on Friday, in a post on the party’s official facebook page, Amuriat confirmed that Ssebugwawo had accepted the appointment and thus according to the party’s constitution, ceases being a member with immediate effect.
“I can confirm that she has accepted the appointment and as a result, has offended Article 12 of the FDC Constitution. She therefore ceases to be a member of FDC and has accordingly voluntarily relinquished her position as Deputy President,” says Amuriat.
“All of you will appreciate the hard work, sacrifice and commitment that Owek. Joyce Naboosa Ssebugwawo put into the formation, growth and running of the party over the last more than 20 years of her political life,” he adds.
Amuriat has further revealed that Nabbosa neither consulted him nor any top member or organ of the party about the decision.
“It is this political investment that she has out of her own volition chosen to abandon especially at this time when the struggle to free this country has reach a critical stage and requires all of us. Her decision to leave the party in order to join our tormentor is purely personal and the organs of the FDC were never consulted,” Amuriat says.
If approved by the appointments committee of parliament, Nabbosa will now join Beti Olive Kamya, Beatrice Atim Anywar and others who have previously left FDC and taken on ministerial positions in the Museveni-led government.
According to Amuriat, FDC remains unshaken despite the departures of these key members.
“She now joins our former colleagues who earlier on parted ways with us leaving behind an even stronger party. My firm believe is that her departure although hurting the organization will not lead to our disintegration and should encourage us to even work harder in pursuit of our goals,” he says.
Amuriat has also cautioned members of the party to desist from attacking her on grounds that it “does not add any value to our political mission and is not in our culture as FDC.”
He says he has been given green light by the party organs to appoint a caretaker Deputy President to replace her in Buganda which he will effect within a period of two weeks to replace her.
He said the party’s doors remain open to her and whoever left the party before to rejoin them and continue pushing the struggle to ‘liberate’ Uganda.
