Ssemujju Defends Besigye on Supporting Amuriat, Says FDC Has no ‘Father’

FDC party spokesperson and member of parliament of Kiira municipality, Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda has defended former Party President Dr. Kizza Besigye saying he has a right to support a candidate of his choice in the party elections.

In his final campaign, the incumbent Party President Gen Mugisha Muntu asked Besigye to concede defeat should the candidate he is ‘backing’ lose. Some critics have previously expressed discontent with the fact that Besigye was siding with a specific candidate and accompanying him on rallies.

But Ssemujju told SoftPower News that like any other party delegate, Besigye had a right to support a candidate of his choice.

Asked whether it was right for former FDC President Kizza Besigye who is seen by many as a father figure to the party, to publicly support Patrick Amuriat, he said it was right.

“For us in our FDC party hierarchy, we don’t have position a party father, and so we don’t have one. Besigye like any other member, is at liberty to support whoever he deems capable of leading the party,” Semujju said.

Meanwhile, the party spokesperson labelled former Kumi legislator, Patrick Oboi Amuriat as a “liar” for saying he intends to end the bickering within FDC, if he is elected party President.

On Friday, Amuriat said that among other things, he has positioned himself to end the internal conflicts within the largest opposition party.

However, Ssemujju who was spoke exclusively to SoftPower News downplayed these statements saying that Amuriat is an idealist who needs to face the reality.

“FDC is not a mosque, it’s a political party. You can’t rule a party without diverging views, and whoever purports to rule as if he is in a mosque, is a liar,” said Ssemujju.

The election has attracted many opposition political activists including JEEMA’s Hussein Kyanjo, Winnie Kizza the leader of opposition in Parliament, Kizza Besigye, Ogenga Latigo and many others.

By press time (5:30pm), voting was still ongoing but, tight competition is projected to be between incumbent Mugisha Muntu and Mr Patrick Oboi.

The final result of this election is expected to be announced later tonight by the party’s EC chairperson Dan Mugarura.