Kamya says Besigye burning entire house because he cannot sleep in it
Beti Kamya criticises Besigye over FDC’s division, leading to the formation of the new opposition party, People’s Front for Freedom.
Beti Kamya, a founding member of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), has launched a scathing attack on Dr Kizza Besigye and the current leadership of the embattled opposition party.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Ms Kamya expressed her sense of betrayal, accusing FDC's present faction, known as FDC Katonga, of undermining the party’s foundational principles.
“It’s a pity that FDC Katonga has decided to destroy FDC in the spirit of ‘if I can’t have it, you won’t have it either.’ It’s such a mean, destructive spirit!” Ms Kamya wrote.
Her outburst reflects growing disillusionment among FDC’s early members who feel the party's ideals are being eroded.
This confrontation comes amid internal strife, fuelled by allegations of tainted funds from President Museveni that emerged in July 2023.
These allegations sparked controversy, leading to a split within FDC as factions accused each other of corruption and betrayal.
Kamya's criticism is especially pointed at Besigye, a former FDC leader who, alongside other original members, laid the party's groundwork.
She questions how Besigye could permit newer members, like Erias Lukwago and Ambrose Birigwa, to dismantle what she calls a “20-year investment” in opposition politics.
“If people who really started FDC while Besigye was in exile just walked away when things were not going according to our expectations, how can Besigye allow the Johnnie-come-latelies to destroy the party?” she lamented.
The internal discord has led the Katonga faction to begin forming a new political entity, the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF).
This follows their decision to dissolve the existing FDC structure.
Addressing these issues in an interview on NBS TV’s “NBS Live at 9” on August 25, 2024, Besigye distanced himself from the factional turmoil.
He stated, “No, I am not happy, but that is no longer FDC. It long veered away from its objectives at the inception of pursuing democratic change and now works for the Junta.”
Besigye explained why he has not followed the path of other former members like Gen. Mugisha Muntu and Beti Kamya who left the party.
He suggested that a consultative process within the party could have resolved differences without fracturing it.
As Uganda’s opposition landscape shifts, the emergence of PFF marks a significant realignment by those disillusioned with FDC’s trajectory.
The future of opposition politics in Uganda hangs in the balance, with PFF’s formation potentially reshaping alliances and strategies ahead of upcoming elections.
The bitter infighting and public criticisms highlight the broader struggle within Uganda’s opposition as parties grapple with maintaining unity and purpose amidst external pressures and internal conflicts.
The months ahead will be pivotal in determining whether PFF can channel the energy of the disillusioned faction and present a credible alternative to the current political establishment.
