Arua municipality Member of Parliament, Kasiano Wadri has asked FDC to discipline former party President, Dr Kiiza Besigye before they can discipline Mugisha Muntu and Paul Mwiru for supporting him.
Last month, FDC through their Deputy Secretary General, Harold Kaija noted that all FDC members who opted to support independent candidate will be disciplined.
These included; the former party President, Maj Gen (Rtd) Mugisha Muntu, Deputy Spokesperson, Paul Mwiru, the National Youth Leader, Idi Ouma, the former Leader of Opposition (LOP), Winnie Kiiza and several other MPs on the party ticket.
They had publicly expressed their support and campaigned for Wadri over Bruce Musema, the official candidate for FDC.
Speaking to journalists after his swearing-in at Parliament, Wadri said that even though it’s against the party constitution to support Independents, a precedent had already been set by the former President, Kiiza Besigye who supported non-party members such as Allan Ssewanyana, Latif Ssebagala, the Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago among others.
“I am a founder member of FDC, a party that I gave all I had including my time. My then party was unfair to me, I say this because the constitutional provision is clear that once you decide to run as an Independent, you cease to be a member of that party and for you to come back, you must come back on application,” Wadri said.
He said that if the party wants equity, they should begin by disciplining Besigye.
“To contest as an Independent was a very painful decision. There were seven candidates who had shown interest, within the party and we all demanded for primaries. But the party denied us the opportunity to hold primaries and yet the constitution has no provision that if you are elected a flag bearer, you serve for five years,” he said.
Wadri has also faulted FDC for causing this problem saying that they failed to hold party primaries so that they can elect a flag bearer which prompted other party members to stand independently.
“The party needs to go and reflect on its actions. It isn’t a matter of sitting in Najjanankumbi and decide for people. The party should have had ears on the ground, it should have consulted its party structures and people in Arua Municipality before making such a decision.”
