FDC race: Mafabi set to step down

Nandala Nathan Mafabi is expected to step down as Leader of Opposition in Parliament to allow for an even ground in the race to replace Dr Kizza Besigye as FDC president, the party decided yesterday.

In a meeting convened by the party’s electoral commission to finalise guidelines for the elections, Maj Gen Mugisha Muntu, Mafabi’s main opponent, said allowing the Budadiri East MP to retain his position would put him at an advantage over his rivals.

The chairman of FDC’s electoral commission, Dan Mugarura, confirmed that they had written to Parliament informing them that the party had decided that Mafabi steps down during the campaigns.

“We want to have a fair race such that no candidate complains that the other is favoured,” Mugarura said.

It is widely expected that Winnie Kizza, the Chief Whip who was last week re-elected Kasese Woman MP in a by-election, will act as Leader of Opposition. However, Magaret Wokuri, the interim leader of Team Mafabi, told us that what had been agreed is for Mafabi to use his personal car and resources - not necessarily to step aside as LOP.

“Mafabi knows it is wrong to use government resources for private engagements. That is why in Kasese [by-election], he used his private vehicle to campaign for [Winfred] Kiiza,” Wokuri said, adding that this did not require him to step down as LOP.

As leader of the opposition, Mafabi is entitled to benefits that include a car, fuel and police escort from the government. He and Muntu are the front runners in the contest, which also has Geoffrey Ekanya, the MP for Tororo County. The elections will be held on November 22, 2012.

Muntu is expected to name his team on Friday before heading out to Busoga over the weekend to kick start his campaign. Mafabi is scheduled to announce his team next week before embarking on campaigns in Buganda on August 24.

The party’s electoral commission has already communicated to the candidates to inform them that they will use the 2010 register for the elections. Currently, the register has 830 delegates but Mugarura said it would be cleaned to remove those who have died, defected to other parties, or those who are inactive.
No stone unturned

Sources told us that both candidates have been busy working the phones and reaching out to delegates individually, seeking support. Mafabi has temporarily set up his tactical headquarters at his accounting firm offices, along Clement Hill Road.

Hamstrung by the fact that some party MPs, particularly those who left the shadow cabinet, are not on his side, Mafabi, sources told us, has decided to concentrate on the grassroots delegates that form the bulk of the voters. Sources said he was assured of getting a block vote in Bugisu and Sebei sub-regions, where his influence (from his days as chairman of Bugisu Cooperative Union) is immense.

However, in Teso, Buganda, Ankole and Busoga, Mafabi has his work cut out. Muntu, sources on his team told us, has so far contacted delegates in 100 districts, mainly though the phone. The former army commander, we have been told, will hold two meetings in every region in what has been described as a town-hall style meeting.

His team will emphasise the fact that he has what it takes to take on government and the diplomatic approach that they say is needed to lure people undecided about joining FDC. Muntu exhibited his tougher side when he fiercely resisted attempts by security personnel to arrest Christopher Kibazanga, Kiiza’s chief campaigner, during the by-election in Kasese.

Wokuri has told us that the campaign will address issues and not attack personalities.

“One of the things we agreed as Team Nandala is that we are going to campaign for our candidate. We are not going to de-campaign anybody,” Wokuri said.

Wafula Oguttu, the party spokesperson, said they were looking for a leader capable of helping the party build grassroots structures so that they have representation from villages to districts.

“By the time of the next general elections we want to have LC-I chairpersons across the country who belong to FDC,” Oguttu said.