Formation of PFF Intensifies Rift Within FDC

The internal squabbles in the once opposition-leading political party Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) have recently intensified after the People’s Front for Freedom (PPFF) launched the signature collection process to quicken new party registration.

According to John Kikonyogo, the FDC party spokesperson, the way the registry team from Katonga-based party PFF is hoodwinking some supporters into providing signatures to endorse new party registration is informal.

While addressing the press on Monday, October 21, 2024, at the party headquarters at Najjanankumbi in Kampala, Kikonyogo revealed that Katonga’s team is decampaining the legitimacy of the FDC party in the quest for supporters’ endorsement of PFF registration.

“For us, we wish them well in their deliberations to register their party, but they don’t need to first lie to our people that FDC is no longer in existence in exchange for people’s signatures to register the party. We have time and again told them that they don’t need to first kill FDC to have their party registered,” Kikonyogo said.

He also appealed to the Electoral Commission (EC) to rectify the PFF party regulations, stating that some of them, such as the colors and key symbols, are almost the same as those of the FDC party.

“We appeal to the EC to publish the PFF logo for our people to know that PFF is a different entity and FDC is in Najjanankumbi. They have put something resembling our key in their phone symbol, something unacceptable. The EC should guide them throughout the processes because they are using such symbols to confuse our supporters that FDC was dissolved, so you better register here,” Kikonyogo said.

However, Ingrid Turinawe, the leader of the registry team at Katonga, said that nothing will block their way to PFF registration because it’s the only platform for the people of Uganda to free their country from captivity.

The fight between the two FDC party factions has since culminated in the creation of two power centers, something that has left party supporters and leaders, including Members of Parliament, perturbed about which side to lean on. Some have moved from left to right as others abstain.

However, as the Katonga group pushes to register the PFF, their counterparts at Najjanankumbi have gone ahead to declare their interest in participating in the forthcoming general elections in 2026.