The sweeping changes in Forum for Democratic Change Uganda’s second biggest political party might have come with a new mandate for many, but a total disappointment for some.
Major General Mugisha Muntu FDC Party President might have used his authority to make radical changes in the party leadership in Parliament for the second half of the August house, but still has a big unanswered question of why his opponent Nathan Nandala-Mafabi was dropped at a critical time where party unity was paramount before 2016.
Our sources have reached out and reveal that in the Muntu camp were two parties that had developed; one that wanted the outgoing LoP Nandala Mafabi retained and another one that wanted him out in favor of Alice Alaso. It is believed that former LoP Professor Ogenga Latigo was of the view that it was politically dangerous to tamper with Nandala Mafabi before 2016 because though the man was unfairly edged out of the Namboole contest, but he yields a huge support base among the electorate across the country which would be dangerous for individuals political future.
How Wafula became LoP
According to an inside source that preferred anonymity, Wafula Oguttu was not the preferred LoP, but an unfortunate bet that slipped through weak planning of the Muntu camp. When Wafula was nominated it is believed that according to Team Muntu’s plan he would reject the offer as he is widely known for his wanting to play small. But prior to Wafula’s naming as LoP, Nandala Mafabi had met Muntu in the morning at Najjanankumbi, and he was informed by the man from Ntungamo that he had decided to make changes in Parliament including bringing in a new LoP.
According to our source, Nandala Mafabi said it was okay for new changes, but asked Muntu what was the reason of his being dropped and Muntu fumbled with a response as he looked the other side and said that “ It is personal, I cannot say it.”
So when Wafula was nominated Wadri was the first who shot at him using the seniority ammunition, to everyone’s surprise the first person to provide defense for Wafula was Nandala Mafabi who watered down the idea of seniority calling it a weak point. Nandala boldly said that; “I will support you Wafu as my LoP.” a statement that shocked many, but also sent shivers to the Alaso camp headed Anita Among who spent two weeks of a long campaign for Alaso to be made LoP. Alaso is believed to have sent the name of her driver to be made an official driver of LoP, because she was sure of the LoP slot. After the appointment of LoP that came as a surprise even to the appointing authority who thought that their plan who work. Nandala Mafabi was swift to read in Muntu and Alaso’s last card which he remedied quickly and backed Wafula Oguttu who they had started to criticize. According to an independent source that we talked to that had talked to Mugisha Muntu a day before the appointment of Alaso somewhere on Jinja road, assured him that Alice Alaso would reject the PAC slot because she was disappointed on the LoP, but Muntu stuck to his guns of appointing her without consultation.
The Alaso Incompetence and the about-turn overnight acquisition of competence.
Ugandans woke up on Thursday morning to news that Alice Alaso had turned down a Public Accounts Committee Chairperson job that had been extended to her by the Party President in consultation with the LoP Hon. Wafula Oguttu. The National Executive Committee (NEC) members were copied in an email that she wrote turning down the appointment. Below is Alice Alaso’s email to NEC.
By Friday morning, Alice Alaso who is out of the country had been talked to back into her appointment of PAC Chairperson. In her email she describes herself as a mere historian, social worker policy analyst who is not good with numbers. Political pundits urge that Alaso’s excuse was not holding any water. “What was she doing on the same committee all along?” asked one opposition MP who preferred not to be mentioned. Many have attributed to Alaso’s conduct as lacking in leadership, though she has a right to turn down the appointment but making a sudden change of heart exposes her ego.
Chris Obore a journalist with a daily newspaper in Uganda teased out soul searching questions on his Facebook account when the news of Alaso’s change of heart came through. “Did Alaso’s change of heart was meant to save the FDC house?” asked Obore. Speaking to a veteran politician and MP in the eighth Parliament said; saving the FDC house is what Alaso was doing, but the damage had already been done and Major General Mugisha Muntu’s leadership qualities have already been exposed.
Any leader would hold a consultative meeting to get acquainted with his potential appointee for purposes of establishing competence. But the former army commander’s soldering days have bounced back where he took similar decisions that cost the army dearly.
After Odonga Otto and Odo Tayebwa’s decline of the shadow cabinet positions citing that they were not consulted before appointing them as shadow ministers. What next?
Nandala Mafabi has managed his transition very well regardless of the hostile media campa
