Retired Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye and Patrick Oboi Amuriat, the current president of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party, have stressed the importance of unity for effective leadership in Uganda.
Their remarks came during the final funeral rites of the late John Drazu Arumadri, an FDC supporter and former Member of Parliament for Madi Okollo, held in Arua City on Monday evening.
The mass was led by Rt Rev. Sabino Ocan Odoki, the Bishop of Arua Diocese, who expressed appreciation for Besigye and Amuriat’s presence during both the initial and concluding rites for Arumadri.
However, he urged the leaders to set aside their differences for the betterment of Uganda, stating, “That day you were in one camp.
Today, I don’t know. We need to pray also for this because I’m sure Honorable John Arumadri would have loved that you have come together.What we want in Uganda is unity and love.
Uganda will not grow if you continue to go into factions.”Arumadri passed away in 2021, before the FDC party’s split into factions led by Dr. Besigye and Amuriat, known as the Katonga and Najjanankumbi factions, respectively.
During the service, Amuriat acknowledged the instability within the FDC and appealed to Besigye for reconciliation.
In his address, Besigye noted that when Amuriat took over the presidency of the FDC, the party was unified, but it has since fragmented into three factions.
He called for party members to seek one another out to reestablish the unity that has been lost.
The split within the FDC occurred in 2023, resulting from years of internal conflicts, power struggles, ideological rifts, and allegations of corruption.
Amuriat argued that such factions weaken political parties by squandering resources, urging all political groups to unite.
Dr. Besigye reflected on his relationship with the late Arumadri, stating that their shared pursuit of justice was a significant bond, describing it as the root of Uganda’s challenges.
The call for unity from these prominent opposition figures highlights the ongoing struggles within Uganda’s political landscape, as they seek to overcome divisions and work towards a common goal of justice and progress.
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