KAMPALA .Buikwe South Member of Parliament, Dr Bayigga Lulume, has dumped Uganda s oldest political party, Democratic Party(DP) and joined the newly formed People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) .
Dr Lulume’s decision to join the PFF comes amid growing discontent within the DP over leadership with a section of members saying Norbert Mao ,DP Presidentt has completely lost direction . His defection comes days after DP declared that Lulume ,who lost to Mao during the last party delegates conference in Mbarara City and other MP legislators will be given party tickets without any competition .
In his latest remarks Dr Lulume said :.“I’m excited to join the PFF, which shares my vision for a better Uganda,” he said after picking nomination forms at Plot 6 Katonga Road offices in Nakasero, Kampala, on Monday, July 7.
“As long as Mao remained the DP party president general following the disputed Asamar Country Hotel delegates’ conference in Mbarara, I had no option ,but to ditch the DP ticket for PFF,” he added.
“My supporters have resolved that I come on a PFF ticket and fight with other forces of change who seek to cause a trusted transition of power from gun rule to civilian rule,” he said
Dr Lulume joins other DP legislators who have shunned their party to join other opposition formations . Others who have crossed to other parties include John Paul Mpalanyi (Kyotera County) , Fortunate Natongo( Kyotera Woman MP) and Nakaseke South MP Paul Luttamaguzi who joined National Unity Platform .Kampala Lord Mayor and interim PFF president Erias Lukwago welcomed Lulume, saying his decision was long overdue for those “persecuted by President Museveni’s dictatorial government” while serving in opposition-like formations under the National Resistance Movement (NRM).“I am happy for Lulume. Thank you for coming to the meaningful change team. We started with our patriarch leader, Dr Col (rtd) Kiiza Besigye, fighting dictatorship, but many took us for a joke. We are soon reaching there,” Lukwago said.
The PFF has been gaining momentum in recent weeks, and Lulume’s defection may help strengthen the party as a viable alternative to the ruling NRM, which has held power under President Museveni for nearly four decades .With next general election drawing closer , more DP stalwarts who are dissatisfied with Mao leadership are expected to exit the party