Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) President Patrick Amuriat Oboi has explained why he dropped Kasese Woman MP Winfred Kiiza and replaced her with a less known Betty Aol Ochan, Gulu Woman MP as Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the latest Uganda news.
Last week, Amuriat in consultation with the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) resolved to replace Kiiza as LoP ahead of the expiration of her two and half year tenure in December this year. Patrick Amuriat retained Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, appointed Tonny Muhindo as deputy chief whip, named Francis Mwijukye as commissioner among others. In the committees, Amuriat appointed Nandala Mafabi as PAC chairperson, replacing Angeline Osegge, Abdu Katuntu was dropped for Munyagwa Mubarak as COSASE chair, deputized by Moses Kasibante who replaces Anita Among.
While appearing on NBS morning breeze show on Monday, Amuriat defended his reshuffle, but argued that naming Betty Aol was not his first option. Without giving the name of the FDC MP, Amuriat said that their first option for LoP position declined to take up the challenging, but juicy position that comes with many privileges such as hefty allowances and extended security among others.
“An MP rejected the position of Leader of Opposition, and he had his own reasons. We’ve had a lot of consultation, and work done in so many months. But it’s on record that we talked to everyone before a decision was taken to reshuffle,” Amuriat said.
He added that these changes were informed by a number of factors like loyalty; financial contribution and other details underground which he said are not for public consumption.
“When you talk about Betty Aol Ochan being little known, you underrate her political capacity and where she came from, she started early and now a third term MP, so why would you think she would never perform in the position of LOP!” Patrick Amuriat said.
Amuriat also defended the appointment of Kawempe South MP Mubarak Munyagwa to replace Bugweri County MP Abdu Katuntu as COSASE Chair saying, “I think the public is very unfair to Mubarak Munyagwa, they should give him time to step into the committee and do his work. I’ve been around him for the past months and he is a very honest and intelligent man.”
“One thing that we need to understand is that MPs qualify to be in parliament and to my mind, all of them qualify and once they qualify to be in parliament, they qualify to be in a parliamentary committee,” he said.
We shall keep you posted here at Flash Uganda media.
By Paul Wetaase
 President Patrick Amuriat Oboi has explained why he dropped Kasese Woman MP Winfred Kiiza and replaced her with a less known Betty Aol Ochan, Gulu Woman MP as Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the latest Uganda news.){kind=link}