The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) last night painted one of their worst pictures before the electorate on national television when the party Secretary General Nathan Nandala Mafabi (MP) and party leaning Kampala Woman MP Naggayi Nabilah Ssempala tussled it out in a debate on NTV’s On The Spot program.
The background of the debate was a scene at the party headquarters in Najjanankumbi when “party loyalists” sought to block Ms Ssempala as she returned her nomination forms for the Kampala Lord Mayor position.
According to the party officials, the outgoing MP returned the nominations late to contest for the flag and as such, couldn’t accept the forms back. On the other hand, Ssempala’s camp insists that the FDC is ring fencing the position for Erias Lukwago, who is not even a member of the party.
“This is not the first time that they’re doing this. They have never fully recognised me as the party flag bearer. In 2016, the party flag bearer for President campaigned for me (as the party candidate) and my opponent of the Democratic Party (Shifrah Lukwago) as his “friend” on the same pulpit.” Ssempala lashed out.
She criticised Dr. Besigye and the party for undermining lady politicians within the party for their own personal gains. She cited all high profile exits of women from the party that she says was out of resentment and force by the officials at Najjanankumbi.
“Alice Alaso, Beti Kamya, Beatrice Anywar, Winnie Kizza are among the high profile leaders that were demonised for having alternative views. And where are they now? Is the party proud for forcing them out?” Ssempala further questioned.
For his part, the party SG Mr Mafabi left out no dirt either. He accused the MP for being a mole in the party that has been undermining the party constitution and activities. She faulted her for being absent while the MPs voted against the age limit bill in parliament to which she responded that she had been on known sick leave.
“Why didn’t you die?” Mafabi retaliated.
“Nabilah is using the party for her own personal gains. It’s her business but she doesn’t have the love for the party” Nandala said further accusing the MP for not contributing to the party ever since she was elected.
Ssempala and other FDC MPs that haven’t been contributing to the party claim that they petitioned the party secretariat asserting that they already contribute enough to their party going by the numbers in Parliament.
“Through IPOD, FDC has been bargaining for their fair share of income from the Electoral Commission (EC) because of the numbers we have in parliament. I contribute a percentage to that money, and they want me to contribute twice?” Ssempala replied back.
The Show host, Patrick Kamara acknowledged that if there was a time that the party shamed themselves infront of the public, yesterday night was one of those.
