2023 has been a year of numerous Political realities as the FDC underwent Party leadership renewal. The FDC Party has gone through changes from the grassroots to the national level.
The Parliamentary front as well, has witnessed a change of guards.
On my behalf and on behalf of the leadership of the FDC Parliamentary Caucus, I thank the Almighty God for the gift of life bestowed upon us as FDC Members of the 11th Parliament and thank Honourable colleagues for the candid support rendered to me ever since I assumed the FDC Whip’s Office.
I must give them credit as well for keeping the Party afloat even during the most difficult times when the Party was undergoing turmoil. I’m happy that the Party is now undergoing stability.
In particular, I thank my Party leadership that entrusted me with the new role of leading my colleagues in the August House.
I take cognisant of the fact that MPs must ensure a healthy and functioning Party since we are representatives of our people.
As soon as the FDC Parliamentary Whip’s changes were effected, we held our maiden Caucus meeting on Wednesday 18th October 2023 where we assigned different roles to Caucus members as well as offered new strategic direction to the FDC Parliamentary Group
I have designated all the 31 MPs of FDC to the respective 12 Standing Committees of Parliament in consultation with the Chief Opposition Whip Hon. John Baptist Nambeshe over the FDC quarterly threshold.
We intend to have a Caucus meeting as soon as Parliament is called back from recess, among others, We shall elect MPs that will represent the FDC Parliamentary Caucus to the FDC National Executive Committee (NEC) and as well as constituting the Caucus leadership.
On 15th December 2023, the Party held the 17th National Council meeting and resolved several key policy directions.
Among these was the invitation of the expression of interest of all those who intend to contest on the FDC ticket as part of the Party’s preparations for the 2026 General election regarding early candidate identification.
The process will commence on 12th January – 5th March 2024 at the Party Headquarters. I request Honourable colleagues to heed this noble and important exercise. As a Parliamentary Group, we intend to work out a joint arrangement where we can support colleagues in their respective constituencies to buttress their efforts to defend these already liberated constituencies in the forthcoming elections.
The FDC Parliamentary Group intend to work together with the newly designated Opposition leadership in Parliament by our colleagues from the National Unity Platform (NUP)to push for a joint Opposition Legislative agenda as well as work with other change-seeking forces to champion the much-desired change-our beautiful country Uganda is clamouring for.
Wish you a splendid 2024 year of change, progress and unity.
Happy New year
For God and My Country
One Uganda, One People.
Yusuf Nsibambi- MP
*FDC Parliamentary Whip
