By Kabuye Ronald
In a dramatic turn of events within the Uganda Federal Alliance (UFA), President Charles James Kizito narrowly avoided impeachment following intense power struggles and accusations of poor leadership. The tumultuous developments occurred during the party’s Annual National Council meeting held on Thursday at Bulange, Kampala.
The meeting, initially calm, erupted into chaos when Secretary General John Bosco Mugarasi presented petitions from party members criticizing Kizito’s leadership. Mugarasi alleged that Kizito’s presidency had led the party into stagnation, resulting in diminished public engagement and operational dysfunction. He accused Kizito of poor management, lack of consultation with key party organs, and ineffective coordination with other leaders.
In his defense, President Kizito rejected the accusations, asserting that he had made appointments based on recommendations and refuting claims of poor coordination.
He highlighted the challenges faced by the party following the defection of the founding president, Hon. Betty Namisango Kamya, to the National Resistance Movement (NRM) where she is serving as the Inspector General of Government IGG, which left the party in a state of disarray and needing to re-legitimize itself with the Electoral Commission which process took over two years.
Kizito also pointed fingers at Mugarasi, accusing him of being absent from his duties for a year and a half, which contributed to the party’s internal issues.
The situation escalated when Mugarasi exchanged bitter words with his president. Asserting that he only presented petitions he received from members not his personal grievances, leading to a contentious exchange with Kizito.
As tensions soared, security personnel intervened to prevent physical altercations among party members.
Elder Ibrahim Nsamba intervened, advising that such significant decisions should be handled by the National Delegates Conference rather than the National Council to avoid further division within the party. He urged members to maintain unity as the general elections approach.
The meeting’s chairman, Ssozi Kikubye, was forced to call a vote on whether to impeach Kizito or refer the matter to the National Delegates Conference.
Despite the heated atmosphere, the majority of the council members, totaling 85, opted to refer the impeachment issue to the National Delegates Conference scheduled for December 3, 2024. Only two members, including Secretary General Mugarasi, voted in favor of impeaching Kizito immediately.
The decision to defer the impeachment process underscores the ongoing power struggles within UFA and sets the stage for a crucial National Delegates Conference that will determine the future leadership of the party.
