The FDC Katonga- road based faction led by Dr. Kizza Besigye has this afternoon written to the Electoral Commission to reserve the name, colors and symbols for a new political party. The new name will be People’s Front for Freedom (PPF), according to a document released today.
The move follows an ongoing rift with the party leadership at the FDC headquarters in Najjanankumbi, with tensions escalating to discussions of potentially dissolving the FDC altogether.
The application was made in accordance with section 6 and 7 of the Political Parties and Organization Act of 2005 and if the application is accepted, the Electoral Commission will register the new party. Its colors will be white and royal blue while its slogan will be ‘Freedom for All – All for Freedom. It has proposed the symbol of a mobile phone.
According to Ingrid Turinawe Kamateneti former FDC mobilizer, the reservation of the People’s Front for Freedom name was the first step as mandated and assigned by Ugandans.
“We will reach out to every individual to exchange the old party identifications for the new ones. Our new platform is People’s Front for Freedom, we are the freedom party.”
Signatories to the application included Ingrid Turinawe, Wafula Oguttu, B’Leo Ojok, ALBERT Charles Okello Oduman, Stanley Ktembeya Tugume, Sarah Bassima Ssengendo and Suzan Nanyonjo. Others included Ann Marie Muteesi, Ronald Samuel Wanda, Kenneth Geoffrey Opoka, Jane Nakasolya Lubega and Proscovia Kunihira.
The Electoral Commission is expected to review the documents to check the availability of the proposed party name and ensure that the selected colors do not conflict with those of existing political parties.
It should be remembered that on August 19, 2024, the FDC Katonga faction held a delegates’ conference during which they resolved to form a new party due to irreconcilable differences with the Najjanankumbi leadership.
In response to their move, the Najjanankumbi faction led by Party President Patrick Oboi Amuriat described the group as clowns seeking to divert FDC supporters adding that their move was illegal. The Political party and organization Act 2005 allows any Ugandan citizen of legal age or group of individuals to register or form a political party or organization.
We are following the story closely and we will be updating you with the new developments as and when they come through.
Compiled by Nakitto Joselyn Elizabeth and Teddy Namayanja
