Humanist

The “FDC Policy Agenda for Uganda’s Leap Forward” route was the more feasible and more viable route for the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) to have positioned itself as the formidable alternative to the ruling party. A policy that was not implemented as it was envisaged.

Fast forward, ten years later, FDC is dismantled and a skeleton remains, commanding significantly much less popular support than it had. And yes, it is no longer the leading opposition party int he Parliament of Uganda.

Major Gen. (Rtd) Mugisha Muntu delivered a huge dent with his splinter group which formed itself into the Alliance for National Transformation Party. More recently, another major FDC splinter group, is organizing to formalize its new political party, the People’s Front for Freedom.

The jury is out on my discomfort in 2016, when in contradiction of its policy agenda, FDC’s response was prayer to what it asserted was “political injustice”.

At the time, I found the Daily Monitor reports of the FDC prayers in solidarity with Dr. Besigye, disturbing. Particularly, when viewed from the Karl Marx lens. You know, ‘religion-is-the-opium-of-the-people’ lens.

Gen. Muntu said Dr Kizza Besigye, the party’s flag bearer in the concluded polls, continues to be incarcerated at his home and that the party leadership is now seeking God’s intervention to set him free.

Really, resorting to God’s intervention for a man-made political problem by Ugandans who also consider themselves ‘children of God’ or ‘chosen by God’ to lead? What happened to FDC’s legal team and its ability to utilize Courts of Law? I questioned.

The main celebrant, Pastor Daniel Ngabo of Rock Deliverance Church, who delivered the day’s sermon, invited the participants to their knees to tell God their grievances. He alluded to the Bible in Acts 12, where God sent an Angel to set free Peter, who had been captured and waiting for trial.

The discomfort here is self-explanatory, no need to explain further.

I wondered about the level of legitimacy and authority (scripture-wise) of the said pastor and the said pastor’s church. My experience with ‘modern churches’ in Uganda and Africa particularly, made me hesitant.

“We have gathered here that the light might shine over us,” Pastor Ngabo said… The power doesn’t belong to President Museveni but the power belongs to God. The strength does not lay in the hands of the government.  What no man can do for us God will do it. You are not alone.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmm … Am lost for words.

After the prayer, Pastor Ngabo handed over his Bible to Gen Muntu, saying that no matter how long it will take, it was a sign that the party will be in charge of the country.

Eeeeeeeeeeeh … I remain wordless.

How were prayers, and religious dogma going to facilitate the achievement of FDC’s mission to “work for the social, economic and political transformation of Uganda. Where Uganda citizens liberate themselves from the fangs of patronage and become masters of their own destiny?”

How was religiosity going to enable the party’s promise articulated by the FDC Party President Major Gen. (Rtd) Muntu, the intention to “accelerate inclusive economic development and dismantle a regime machinery that perpetuates corruption and impunity?”

Well we now have the answer. The opportunity was lost ten years ago, through non-implementation of “FDC’s Policy Agenda for Uganda’s Leap Forward.” The consequence, Uganda has leaped backward; some assert, in terms of rule of law.

Profiled photo: Major Gen. (Rtd) Mugisha Muntu @ Africa News

A version of this blog post was first published on 16th March 2016.