Two banks, dfcu and Centenary, have been asked to change the authorized signatories for the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) accounts. The FDC’s interim leaders have publicly announced this request, replacing the previous signatories immediately.
The banks have received letters instructing them to cease transactions with Mr. Nathan Nandala Mafabi and Mr. Geoffrey Ekanya, who were signatories to FDC accounts. The interim President of the Katonga faction, Mr. Erias Lukwago, explained that these changes were made because the Secretary General and Treasurer, who previously held signatory authority, are currently suspended. As long as they remain suspended, their signatures on those accounts cannot be considered valid.
Both dfcu and Centenary banks have reportedly received these instructions to update the signatories on FDC accounts. However, the banks have chosen not to comment on the matter, citing their commitment to customer privacy and confidentiality.
The new authorized signatories for FDC accounts will be Mr. Harold Kaija and Mr. Francis Mwijukye, who hold positions in the interim leadership. Additionally, the FDC has submitted a list of its newly elected interim leadership to the country’s Electoral Commission (EC) as required by law, although the impact of this notification on the party’s legal standing at the EC remains uncertain.
The political unrest within the FDC has been ongoing for three months, culminating in a conference on September 19, where Mr. Patrick Oboi Amuriat and Mr. Nathan Nandala Mafabi were suspended as President and Secretary General, respectively. These developments come amid allegations of financial impropriety involving the two suspended officials.
In response to the recent announcements, Mr. Amuriat dismissed them as “wishful thinking” and accused Mr. Lukwago and his colleagues of engaging in illegal activities. Mr. Lukwago is expected to preside over his first FDC National Executive Committee meeting, where discussions on a new roadmap for the election of party leaders and nationwide mobilization rallies against what he calls “bad leadership” will be on the agenda.