I take this opportunity to congratulate you Hon. Patrick Amuriat Oboi on your hard fought and deserved win. FDC has spoken loud and clear. I wish you all the best in the challenges and opportunities that come with being FDC President. It’s been a great honor to serve and I thank God for it.
I would also like to thank my family who have unreservedly borne the stress and strain of not only leading Uganda’s biggest opposition party, but also the demands these had on my time. Thank you Julia, Bukama and Ankunda.
To my campaign team, supporters, delegates and all those that made all we did possible, thank you. Thank you for not only believing in me and my capabilities, but also in yours. Together, we showed Uganda what politics could be. What it should be. Thank you
May I also take this opportunity to sincerely apologize to those who don’t trust in me; I sincerely apologize. It wasn’t my intention to waste your time up to this time.
It has been a pleasure working with you all. We are heading into interesting and challenging times as we are going forward. For those who believe in my method and approach, please I urge you, don’t be frustrated, don’t panic, and don’t be provoked.
During the campaigns, it became clear there was a considerable amount of distrust in me by some within our party. Indeed it was this mistrust that characterised my tenure. At a personal level, There are decisions that I must have to make, I am an honest man and I have always been honest to myself. I would like to be honest with you as well.
We are in the common struggle for the liberation of our people. I joined this struggle at 23 years, I don’t intend to back track as far as the struggle for freedom of the people is concerned. I am an army man and I know first hand just how important trust is in a fight. No matter how well trained or equipped you are, it is impossible to fight and win at the frontline if those beside you and behind you are hesitant to be led by you.
I want to operate in an environment where I feel I am trusted by those that I am working with. So colleagues, I don’t want to be unfair to you nor do I want to say that you are being unfair to me. Therefore, at a personal level, there are decisions I will have to make in the coming days and weeks. I ask for your patience and prayers. We need to bear with each other even as we ponder on the decision that we will have to make. We do our part as human beings and the rest we leave it to God.
I hope Hon. Patrick Amuriat Oboi does not go through an environment similar to the one I have operated through. I wish you a better environment, but even then, the work is immense. So tighten your shoes and belt. To you and the team you will be working with, please remember this: if you lose those values that we believe in, you lose the party. No party will survive unless it has those values in it.
Finally, to all Ugandans in and out of FDC, at home and abroad, let us remember what yesterday was REALLY about. Our country’s challenges are legion: unemployment, an out of touch government, broken education, healthcare and justice systems. Yesterday was abt how to deal with that. So let’s get to work and DEAL WITH THAT. The main objective remains the freedom and rights of our people. God bless you all and God bless this beautiful country we all call HOME.
One Uganda, one people.
Maj Gen Mugisha Muntu (Rtd) is the second President of the Forum for Democtatic Change (FDC)