Maj Gen Mugisha Muntu has Monday afternoon been nominated for Forum for Democratic (FDC) party presidency for the 5 year term (2017- 2022) at a function held at the party headquarters in Najjanankumbi.
The incumbent who recently stepped down handing over the office to the party Vice President, Alice Alaso was nominated amidst ululations and a big gathering by the different party wings, delegates, members and supporters.
Muntu was seconded by Soroti Woman MP, Angelina Osege, the party Chairman, Wasswa Birigwa, the Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LOP), Winnie Kiiza; the oppoosition whip, Ibrahim Semujju Nganda; the deputy spokesperson, Paul Mwiru and the National Youth Leader, Idi Ouma among others.
Having served five years as president of the main opposition party, Gen Muntu is competing with five other candidates to retain his seat.
The other candidates are: Dan Matsiko, Moses Byamugisha, Patrick Amuriat Oboi, Mubarack Munyagwa and Moses Lukubira.
Gen. Muntu in a brief statement on Monday said that over the past five years as President, “My team and I have focused our efforts on building strong party structures at grassroots and national levels,” adding, “As a result of this, our party fared far better in the 2016 elections than most thought we would.”
Muntu is perceived as a moderate who believes in nurturing talent, building structures and reaching out to rivals.
This has not endeared him to the radical wing led by Dr Besigye that cherishes acts of defiance.
As such, Besigye supporters consider Muntu a ‘political softie’ who can’t remove President from power.
In his statement today, Muntu noted that “our biggest challenge-both as a party and a country, is to build institutions and structures that can outlast any one individual.”
After his nomination, Kizza Besigye’s aide, Moses Byamugisha also vowed to reclaim his boss’ 2016 victory.
In his address to the media, Byamugisha noted that he will rally his campaign behind two core principles of ensuring that he reclaims the 2016 party victory and positioning the youth to take over the leadership of the country.
The campaigns will run for 90 days.
Byamugisha said that he will be proposing to FDC leaders countrywide with proposals on how to streamline the party and its infrastructure to be able to serve the needs of the main struggle to reclaim the 2016 victory.
Below are some of the pictorial highlights from the nomination event.
Opposition Chief Whip Ibrahim Nganda Ssemujju (wearing a hide) with other delegates at the nomination ceremony
Gen Muntu raises the party symbol, a key
Supporters were excited