Kampala, Uganda | NOW THEN DIGITAL — Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament, Anitah Among, has officially acknowledged Yusuf Nsibambi as the new Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Whip in Parliament, succeeding Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda. The confirmation was conveyed through a letter read by her Deputy, Thomas Tayebwa.
This decision from Among was made after she received a formal communication from FDC Secretary General Nathan Nandala Mafabi, confirming that all required procedures were duly followed during the party’s delegates conference, resulting in Nsibambi’s appointment to this role.
In response to this announcement, Nsibambi, the newly designated FDC Party Whip, expressed his commitment to collaboration and stressed that his role isn’t that of a supervisor but rather to foster common stances and address societal issues rather than indulging in political theatrics.
Nsibambi, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for Mawokota South, sees this appointment as a significant challenge, especially given the current political climate. He views it as his responsibility to unite the party and bring a sense of dignity to parliamentary debates within the FDC.
Amidst these developments, Godfrey Macho, the MP for Busia Municipality, voiced concerns about the perceived influence of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party. He suggested that if the new FDC Whip secures a ministerial position, it would underscore the supposed power of the NRM.
Furthermore, Mafabi had initially communicated Nsibambi’s appointment to the Speaker of Parliament on August 7, 2023. However, this decision was met with challenges, with nine FDC Members of Parliament raising objections and petitioning the Speaker on August 14. They argued that party procedures had been disregarded and called for the involvement of party members, particularly those within the National Executive Committee (NEC), in the decision-making process.
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In light of this, the Speaker responded by withholding the implementation of Mafabi’s decision until the concerns raised by the petitioners were resolved. She stressed the importance of addressing internal party matters that affect the harmony and operation of Parliament.
Following the Speaker’s decision to hold off on the replacement of Ssemujju, the FDC responded by clarifying the concerns raised by the petitioners. The party also recently conducted a delegate conference where members were elected to various key positions.
During today's plenary, I informed the House about the appointment of Hon Yusuf Nsibambi as the new FDC Party Whip replacing Hon Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda.
We wish him well as he executes his duties. pic.twitter.com/4cSaMBHpv2
— Thomas Tayebwa (@Thomas_Tayebwa) October 11, 2023
