Promoters of the New Formation, a political grouping headed by retired Major General Mugisha Muntu, today gathered at Nsambya Sharing Hall in Kampala as part of the process to register a political party.

Among the items they are handling in the meeting is the draft party constitution.

Maj.Gen Muntu, a former president of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party, announced recently that he was leaving FDC and forming a new party. He told today’s meeting that the new party will be guided by principles, not personalities.

According to him, constitutional formation is a requirement in the registration of any party and usually a few leaders are consulted before signatures are collected. Calling this a new formation and a new way of doing things, he said he chose to involve all members because it’s the people's party.

Alice Alaso Asianut, the New Formation meeting Convener, told fellow promoters that it was extremely important to get answers on who the faces behind the party are, how these can be distinguished from any others, what they are up to and how they are to go about this formation. She also noted that it’s the deliberate decisions and choices of today that would impact the Formation's future.

Alaso is a former Member of Parliament for Soroti and Serere districts who also served as secretary general for the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) when Muntu was party president.

Alaso further expounded on what was to be done in the course of the one day's meeting as having an in depth look at the party constitution that is supposed to govern the political party in the long run. This she emphasised the need for the spirit of constitutionalism that overrides the emergence of dictatorial tendencies.

Wilberforce Sseryazi, leading the legal team, told members that the success of the party lay on their shoulders, noting that if they make a wrong constitution, it will be them to blame whereas for a good one they will be praised for it .

One of the issues of for discussion was the two-term limits for the party executive which was applauded by all.

Takaba Muhindo, from Kasese region, reacted to the issue: "We have enough leaders in New Formation. Term limits will check on how leaders run their terms aware of the limited time. They will give it their best."

Another respondent who identified himself as one from Nothern region said, "Us people from the North are tired of over stayed leaders." This he said in support of the two-term limits.

The draft constitution proposes nullification of the position of party president in preference for Party chairperson. Besides, the chairperson is not to run for any elective position in national elections to avoid what members call party manipulation.

This too was highly endorsed by members with many seeing it as a way to eradicate power struggle within the party.

On this Kyagulanyi Hillary proposed leadership training for members all over the country to change the bad leadership image.

The New Formation was first announced on 27th September, 2018 as a new political movement. This week, up to 60 FDC leaders in Ankole have been reported to have crossed to join the New Formation.  

When announcing formation of the new party, General Muntu explained that it had become difficult for him to stay in FDC after losing the top seat to Patrick Amuriat late last year. Muntu, a former army commander, said that a clash of ideologies between those who wanted to use civil disobedience to oppose President Yoweri Museveni, and those who wanted to build party structures, left him with no option but to leave FDC.

Uganda returned to multiparty politics in 2006 and has 23 registered political parties.