The Forum for Democratic Change-FDC, Katonga faction has given the Electoral Commission [EC] one week to issue the registration forms to the promoters of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), the new political party that they intend to start.
Speaking to journalists at their offices on Katonga Road in Kampala, Erias Lukwago the interim president of the FDC Katonga faction, said that the EC has up to Monday next week to issue registration forms and gazette the new name of their intended party or else they wait to see what their plan is.
Last week, a letter by the EC written to the promoters of PFF emerged in which the name and colors of the intended party were queried. In a letter signed by Mulekwa Russel Jacques Leonard, the Commission Secretary, the EC noted that the PFF should reconsider its name and colours because they are similar to those of existing political parties.
“The submissions in respect of names of the proposed political party, People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) closely resembles an already reserved Political Party name – People Power Front (PPF), which is likely to confuse members of the public. The choice of white and royal blue as colours closely resembles that of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and are likely to confuse the general public,” the letter reads in part.
The letter also added that the Political Parties and Other Organizations Act prohibits the usage of a colour, name or initials of any registered Political Party or Organization. “This is, therefore, to inform you that you comply with the relevant provisions under the Political Parties and Organizations’ Act governing the registration of Political Parties and Organizations,” the letter notes.
However, in his address Monday, Lukwago explained that there is a significant difference between the sky blue used by the FDC and the royal blue that they intend to use. Lukwago explained that under the law, no one can patent a primary colour such as blue green and red. He said this is the reason why there are many parties that share colours.
On the name, Lukwago equally said there is no single party that can claim ownership of any letters. Lukwago said there is a big difference between the People Power Front and the People’s Front for Freedom. He called upon the EC to not jump on small matters and instead do what it is expected of it and issue registration forms so that they can start on the process of registering their party.
Lukwago also wondered what is taking the EC so long to respond to them after they responded to their requests.
Forum for Democratic Change witnessed another fallout last year when a section of the party members accused the President Amuriat Oboi Patrick and Secretary General Nathan Nandala Mafabi of taking Museveni’s money, which was used in the general elections of 2021.
Since then, the party has had two factions; one sitting at Katonga Road in Kampala and the other sitting at Najjanankumbi. It’s now the Katonga faction that wants to start a new political party.
