Former FDC President Rtd Maj Gen Mugisha Muntu’s anticipated departure from the leading opposition party became more pronounced on Sunday night as he queried the future of nonbelievers in the political organisation’s official defiance strategy, Chimp Corps report.

Known in Uganda’s political circles as a ‘liberal’, Gen Muntu has in recent months publicly expressed his discomfort with the radicalism taking root in FDC, leaving the party more divided than ever before.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Gen Muntu said he “firmly believes in speaking the truth, especially when it’s hardest” in reference to the explosive situation in FDC.

“Here is the truth as I see it,” said Gen Muntu, “the majority of party delegates chose two weeks ago to take only one direction: defiance. While I full respect that, we must ask ourselves what exactly this means.”

Muntu, who believes in building and consolidating grassroots structures as opposed to engaging security forces in deadly street battles, wondered: “What happens to those within the party who believe in a multi-pronged approach? Do they remain in the party and simply do whatever they are told even if they don’t believe in it?”

The defiance strategy promoted by the new party president Patrick Amuriat has left moderates on the edge, with some insisting on forming a new party.

Officials say some of Muntu’s diehards who would not mind forming a new party include Amanya Mushega, Miria Matembe, Maj John Kazoora, Alice Alaso, Hon Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, Hon Winnie Kiiza among others.

This group believes Muntu has more potential to challenge President Museveni’s hold onto power especially if he can attract the ‘silent majority’ which includes the inactive 5 million registered voters to take part in the 2021 general elections.

Muntu’s supporters say Dr Kizza Besigye’s defiance strategy has divided the party’s top leadership and threatens to undermine the cohesion of the entire political organisation ahead of the next presidential elections.

In his statement, Muntu hit at the radicals in the party who made his presidency hell and pressed for answers in regard to those opposed to defiance.

“Do they vigorously debate and challenge every decision made that they do not believe is the best way forward and risk destabilizing the party as was the case in the first three years of my presidency?”

He added: “Do they amicably agree with their colleagues to leave the party and carry out the things they firmly believe in, thereby complimenting and strengthening the opposition rather than weakening internal cohesion? Are there other ways to deal with this?”

Muntu said these were questions “we must frankly ask ourselves, not because we are aggrieved by the elections outcome, but because that’s what comrades at arms do; speak honestly and with the best of intentions.”

The former army chief’s comments will leave no shed of doubt about his commitment to take a fresh political path should his supporters rally him to do so during the nationwide consultations.

Gen Muntu starts consultations on January 15 at national and sub-regional levels.

“We do not seek to superimpose an already determined outcome to these consultations. Instead, we plan to move ahead in the hope that we all will come out of the process stronger, more united in purpose and clearer on which path(s) we each should take,” said Muntu.

In his conclusive remarks, Muntu said Uganda remained a “young democracy” whose “violent history is largely a result of people refusing to have open, honest and constructive dialogue.”

He said for Uganda to “build a truly inclusive and equitable society, we cannot have repression of dissent and alternative voices as our foundation.”

Unlike in the past when he signed off statements with FDC’s slogan, ‘One Uganda, One People,’ Gen Muntu ended his announcement with a phrase, ‘God bless you, and God bless this beautiful republic we all call home.”