The opposition Forum for Democratic Change party have explained circumstances under which their struggling presidential candidates ended up not attending the Wednesday televised debate on NBS.
According to the FDC, the two presidential candidates were travelling from the West Nile districts of Nebbi, Adjuman and Moyo when they came across a social media poster inviting them for a debate on NBS TV.
One of the renowned FDC bloggers, Barnabas Nasasira says the party admits that entire invite was a mistake.
“I knew about this on Tuesday after calling Eng. Patrick Amuriat’s Personal Assistant that NBS published the debate without writing to the candidates or the party,” he stresses.
He adds that the candidates only knew about the debate on Tuesday.
“Yesterday in the noon, the NBS team contacted the FDC team with the candidates that were travelling from Nebbi back to the city,” he explains.
Amuriat and elderly Birigwa opened that they would jointly not feature for the debate. On the contrary however, the two candidates were spotted attending the knighthood ceremony of Dr. Paul Ssemwogerere.
When our reporter asked on why Amuriat attended the Ssewogerere’s ceremony at Sheraton hotel on Wednesday morning yet he couldn’t attend a mere TV debate later that evening, one of the FDC leaders angrily responded, “Mind you, FDC is an Institution. It has a process of engaging in such things. We are not looking for publicity,” he said. “You can’t Invite such candidates via social media,” he wildly barked.
We further inquired why the party had advertised the event on its social media platforms, one of the FDC digital handlers said it was a regrettable mistake.
“We made a mistake to advertise it, though we realised it late, that’s a reason why some of us didn’t talk about it again throughout the day,” he said. “We knew the mistake NBS committed, we just gave it time thinking that our candidates may decide at the last hour but they didn’t,” he adds.
Ugandans have however rejected the exercise saying it is too petty. “I am not buying that excuse, find another. NBS has hosted many men of higher status over years, I doubt whether they haven’t yet mastered the protocol of inviting guests for talk shows. We are not in hurry take time and explain to us why your presidential candidates chickened the debate!,” reacts Elijah.
The FDC NEC will today sit at the party headquarters in Najjanankumbi and vote for the party presidential nominee for the 2021elections.
The party Deputy secretary general, Harold Kaija says they have already invited all the FDC district chairpersons to attend the voting event. The contest is between Eng. Patrick Amuriat Oboi and Ambassador Wasswa Birigwa.
