Besigye Says Amuriat’s FDC Presidency is Illegitimate

Former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) president Kizza Besigye has cast doubts over the legitimacy of current party President Patrick Amuriat Oboi.

While appearing on NBS TV on Tuesday morning, Besigye challenged Amuriat to deny his allegations. Besigye, who called upon the public to task leaders to account to them, asked Amuriat to defend his presidency.

“Mr. Amuriat calls himself the president of the FDC now. Ask him to tell you which Delegates Conference elected him. Who convened it?” – Kizza Besigye.

The four-time presidential candidate cited the party constitution, saying the conference was illegitimate. The FDC held a National Delegates Conference in October 2023. In this conference, Nandala Nathan Mafabi and Patrick Oboi Amuriat were reelected Secretary General and President respectively.

However, according to Besigye, the results of the conference are illegitimate as it was an illegal gathering. He cited the party constitution that says the National Delegates Conference can only be convened by the National Chairperson. He challenged Amuriat to provide evidence of having another national party Chairperson than Wasswa Birigwa.

Therefore, according to Besigye, the results of a conference that wasn’t convened by Birigwa cannot be taken to the bank. Besigye also responded to critics who say he’s no longer as popular as he was among the population. This criticism was influenced by his national consultative meetings that have attracted an underwhelming audience.

Besigye unfazed

However, according to the retired soldier, this shouldn’t concern anyone. He said he isn’t in competition with anyone.

“I am not in competition with anybody. People think that once you are in politics, you are there to contest with others. However, this is a misunderstanding as this isn’t what brought me to politics. I didn’t leave my medical work to seek leadership but to change the state in which I live.” – Kizza Besigye.

He stressed that his activism isn’t driven by popularity but by fighting for a democratic country.