Supporters of the Budadiri West MP Nandala Mafabi are quietly reaching out to the former top spymaster, Gen David Sejusa, to join the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and challenge Maj Gen (rtd) Mugisha Muntu for the party presidency next year.
The Daily Post understands that negotiations between the two camps have already kicked off in the bid to convince the General to join the FDC ranks and contest for the party presidency.
“We are aware that meetings are already taking place but we are ready for whichever candidate they front against us,”a General Muntu supporter intimated to the Daily Post.
Proponents of a Gen Sejusa bid argue that he can fare better than Mr Mafabi in the battle to wrestle the party from Gen Muntu,an avid believer in the dogma of building party structures as opposed to the defiance campaign.
Gen Muntu defeated Mr Mafabi by 32 votes in 2012 and supporters of the latter feel the General has consolidated his base within the party as he enjoys a huge following from the party’s leadership in Parliament and are wary of fronting the same candidate.Leader of Opposition Winfred Kiiza is a staunch Muntu supporter.
Mr Mafabi,who doubles as the Secretary General, is backing on the support of the ‘Besigyeists’,a radical crop of mainly youthful party supporters who obstinately believe in Dr Kizza Besigye’s defiance campaign and are skeptical about General Muntu’s approach of building structures.
Gen Sejusa, who fell out with the regime in 2013, is effectively an opposition politician but cannot actively participate in politics because he is yet to formally retire from the Army. The High Court in May ruled that the General is no longer a serving officer of the UPDF but the Army said it will appeal the ruling.