FDC crisis deepens as Birigwa declines to meet Amuriat

This development comes against the backdrop of Amuriat saying that he was more than willing to meet with Birigwa in order to harmonise their differences.

A meeting scheduled by Amuriat where he was supposed to meet with Birigwa did not happen following the chairperson’s no-show at the agreed venue and time.

A source who prefers anonymity said that Birigwa did not find any reason to attend the meeting because Amuriat did not state the agenda of the meeting.

While talking to KFM, a Ugandan radio station, Birigwa said he could not turn up for the meeting when the party is still in turmoil, saying that the camp needs to first organise itself.

The issue of contention revolves around money within the FDC that, according to four-time presidential aspirant and former party president Kizza Besigye, is dirty money from President Museveni, who is also the Chairperson of the National Resistance Movement (NRM).

David Mafabi, the party's secretary-general, and Amuriat, who are accused of receiving money from Museveni, have since denied the accusations, saying that the money they got was from a "safe source" and should therefore not be a cause of alarm within the party.

While addressing journalists at his offices on Katonga Road, Besigye said Mafabi had lied about the money he delivered to his home in Kasangati. Besigye said he lied to him and said the money was his, yet he later learned from a source in State House that he had received money from President Museveni.

Besigye also trashed the report authored by the FDC council of elders following an investigation into the matter. He said the report does not absolve the apparent issues within the party and declared war on the party’s top leadership.