Highlights:
- High Court Rejects FDC Katonga Faction’s Bid to Halt Najjanankumbi Conference
- Court Rules Against FDC Katonga Faction’s Efforts to Stop Delegates Meeting
- FDC Katonga Faction’s Injunction Plea Denied, Delegated Conference Proceeds
In a recent court ruling, Justice Ssekaana decided that the efforts made by members of the Katonga faction within the Opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) to prevent the national delegates conference scheduled for today in Najjanankumbi were unsuccessful. The Katonga faction, led by Mr. Wasswa Birigwa and comprising 27 others, had sought legal action to stop the conference, expressing concerns that they would lose their positions within the party.
The primary target of their legal action was Mr. Boniface Toterebuka Bamwenda, the chairperson of the FDC electoral commission. The Katonga faction argued that Bamwenda lacked the authority to conduct the delegates conference and elections.
Justice Ssekaana, in dismissing the interim application on Thursday, raised questions about the Katonga faction’s approach. He noted that Mr. Birigwa and the group had filed the suit and application as FDC members against a fellow party member whom they acknowledged as the chairperson of the party’s electoral commission. However, they had not included the FDC itself, which is a corporate body they appeared to be trying to protect and whose constitution they were invoking in their cases.
The judge questioned whether the applicants or the respondent acted in the best interests of the party and emphasized the importance of considering the party’s interests. He argued that the current parties in the suit seemed to be pursuing their personal benefits rather than the party’s national membership’s interests.
Justice Ssekaana also pointed out that the orders sought against Mr. Bamwenda would have significant consequences for the entire FDC. He explained that even if Bamwenda chose not to attend the meeting on October 6, the activities would proceed as planned, rendering the sought orders meaningless.
The judge further emphasized the importance of the party’s interests, as it had incurred expenses and was in the process of organizing the delegates conference. He deemed it unfair to halt the conference, which would result in financial and economic losses, as well as confusion among party members.
Finally, Justice Ssekaana criticized the timing of the Katonga faction’s application for a temporary injunction, stating that it was filed too late and in bad faith. The respondent had previously stated in his affidavit that the date of the delegates conference had been set in July 2023, making the last-minute application on October 3 appear questionable.
As of Thursday evening, over 1000 delegates had already been accredited for the national delegates conference scheduled for today.
