FDC Claim Cardinal's Support
Nov 18, 2005
The Forum for Democratic Change has claimed that Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala has thrown his weight behind their cause of bringing about change in Uganda's leadership.
The Monitor (Kampala, November 8, 2005) Speaking at the FDC weekly press briefing, the party vice-chairperson Salaam Musumba, who is also MP Bugabula South, said that the cardinal made his pledge at a meeting with party President Dr. Kizza Besigye at his residence on Saturday.
"It was a very cordial meeting," Musumba said, "He (the Cardinal) was very happy to have Col. Besigye back and well to participate in the political activities of the country."
"He promised to pray for us and to commit us to the Lord for guidance," Musumba added.
"He agreed with us that this country needs healing and that it has been so fragmented and it needs to be brought back as a country that believes in the same values and walks in the same path."
Musumba, who was speaking off cuff, told journalists the Cardinal said that for the last twenty years - all the Movement has done was to divide the people of Uganda and that he was strongly in support of FDC in bringing a change.
Musumba, flanked by party Secretary General Alice Alaso and Joyce Sebugwawo, said Dr Besigye met the Cardinal together with some FDC officials for about 30 minutes before heading to the late Abu Mayanja's house to commiserate with the family from where he set off for Gulu.
Attending the meeting with the Cardinal were Musumba herself, Prince Kimera, Joyce Sebugwawo, Beti Kamya, Sam Akaki, Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu, Sarah Kiwanuka and Obed Kamulegeya.
Efforts to reach the Cardinal for a comment on the remarks attributed to him were futile as he was reportedly attending a daylong meeting with priests at the Pope Paul Memorial Centre in Rubaga yesterday. "On that one, I cannot comment, you will have to see the cardinal himself," Fred Sekitto, the Information Commissioner for Archdiocese of Kampala told Daily Monitor from his Rubaga office.
The Cardinal is no stranger to controversy. In the past, he has publicly voiced his opposition to a third term for President Museveni, drawing a backlash among government officials.
Dr Besigye's visit to the Cardinal is yet another of the several meeting he held last week with several interest groups. He met the late Dr Milton Obote's widow and children at their home in Kololo at the start of the week. Mid last week he was barred by security from visiting his brother John Musaasizi, who is on treason charges in Luzira Prison. Last Thursday evening, Besigye met donors under the umbrella organisation of Partners for Development and Good Governance at the Danish embassy in Kampala.
The FDC Special Envoy in charge of the Presidency, Beti Kamya, indicated that Dr Besigye is slated to meet several leaders of interest groups.
FDC Claim Cardinal's Support