By Chris Mugasha
Following the ‘sign out’ of Odo Tayebwa from the Forum for Democratic Change to National Resistance Movement (NRM), the Bushenyi district FDC leadership has said Odo’s departure is not a loss to the party.
The Bushenyi district FDC party chairman Guma Gumisiriza said the decision by Odo to cross will have no impact on the opposition.
Guma said the prevailing conditions in the country have led new people to emerge out in the opposition to replace the ‘old tanks’ like Odo.
He said Odo’s departure will not silence them nor will it lead to a decline of opposition in the district.
Odo on Sunday announced his crossing to NRM at a rally in Bitereko Sub County in Mitooma district. He was introduced to President Yoweri Museveni by the deputy speaker of parliament Thomas Tayebwa. His crossing has become a talk of town with many debating on whether Odo has been still influential in the political affairs of Bushenyi. Many wait to see how he is going to change the language to defend NRM. Only time will tell!
Guma said majority of people in Uganda are going through difficult times with poverty levels increasing, need for school fees increasing, costs of medical care worsening.
He explained that opposition political parties are likely to experience a wave of seeing their supporters running to where there is ‘food’
“It’s clear that people are going through difficult times and so some will stay while others will go,” he said adding that, “we are at critical times where the economy has declined.”
Guma said a person like Odo who has opposed NRM government for the last 22years cannot simply cross but it’s because of the conditions that he (Odo) may be going through.
“There is a lot of disgruntlement amongst people and in all political parties even NRM,” Guma said.
He explained that at some point members of FDC were contesting against Odo becoming the party’s secretary for mobilization because they were doubting him. Guma said because Odo has been a founder and a pillar they just allowed him to take up the position.
“He has proved what people suspected of him,” Guma noted.
He insisted that as along as people continue to see issues of poverty, inequality, human rights abuse, oppression, high costs of living more new forces in the opposition will continue to emerge.
Immediately after crossing, Odo blamed the leadership of the FDC for weakening the party. Odo said he has been torn between Katonga group and Najjanakumbi camp.
A cross section of FDC supporters have been blaming Odo for failing to make FDC stronger in Bushenyi especially when he was in parliament representing Bushenyi/Ishaka Municipality. It’s on record that Odo joined parliament after winning through a sympathy vote which he later failed to defend/sustain.
A day to a rally where he announced his defection, a video circulated on social media platforms showing Odo, Museveni and Thomas Tayebwa.
What remains unclear is what Odo negotiated with NRM. End.
