FDC Chairman Arrested for Forging ICC Petition Signatures

By Kampala Post Reporter

The Police in Namayingo district are holding Joseph Wanjala, the area Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Party chairman after he was found forging signatures and thumbprints for the opposition political party’s petition to ICC.

The party has for several weeks now been on a campaign to raise signatures to support their petition to the International Criminal Court against President Yoweri Museveni. The campaign was launched in November by former FDC leader and presidential candidate, Dr Col Kizza Besigye.

Police Spokesperson Fred Enanga says Wanjala, 44 was arrested on December 11. “This followed a complaint from selected individuals, who were not party to the ICC petition, but whose signatures and ID particulars appeared on the petition to the ICC,” he said.

Police explains that Wanjala had collected 235 signatures on the petition to the ICC, using the National Voters Register for Rabolo Jesus Restoration Church of Namavundu village, Iolwe Sub-county in Namayingo district.

“We would like to establish how the suspect obtained a copy of the National Voters Register, which is a preserve of the Electoral Commission,” Enanga said.

“We would like to remind all political actors that this kind of conduct is unacceptable. The investigation thus far revealed evidence of an alleged scheme, in which the party official knowingly possessed a copy of the National Voters Register and unlawfully used the information on their petition to the ICC,” He warned, adding: “Many of the signatures on the petition document appear to be of a similar style of writing.”

He said both copies of the National Voters Register and the petition to the ICC are exhibited and that several witness statements were also recorded and attached to file for the attention of the DPP. Wanjala faces charges of giving false information and forgery.