The Forum for Democratic Change, has tasked the Electoral Commission to explain why money which is meant to facilitate political party activities under the Political Parties Act has not been availed to the party.
While addressing the media at the party headquarters, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda said the money was already approved by parliament.
“The Electoral Commission has refused to release money meant to facilitate political parties’ activities. You are all aware that political parties represented in Parliament are entitled to some funding,” Nganda said.
“The money for the last Financial Year’s quarter was not released. Money for the first quarter during this financial year has not been released yet we are in an election season,” he added.
“We demand for the immediate release of political parties’ funding by the Electoral Commission.”
However, the Electoral Commission said the money allocated for political parties is still being held at the Ministry of Finance.
Nganda also said it is unfortunate that the opposition has been stopped from addressing rallies, processions and even smaller meetings, yet the ruling party continues with their activities uninterrupted.
“As the whole world saw, NRM politicians addressed rallies, led processions and violated every single measure announced by the Health Ministry to curtail the Spread of COVID-19,” he said.
He claimed that the polling day was like a market where there was no washing of hands, no wearing of masks, no social distancing, large crowds gathered and people interacted freely at all polling areas.
“Yet we have oppositions and ordinary citizens who are in cells for violating COVID-19 measures. I think the NRM elections have demonstrated that it is possible to have a normal election. It is a risk but a possibility. As FDC, we have learnt and we will do like NRM has done. We want to thank them,” he said.