IN THE NAME OF FAIRNESS: Okanya and NDF executive Nicholas Kamukama on Thursday

By Solomon Muyita

THE National Democrats Forum (NDF) Party has said it will blacklist the Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Katumba Wamala, and the entire force for being partisan.
“We are embarking on a move to black/red list elements of state who are taking a lead in frustrating the transition to multiparty democracy.

The Police have become very partisan and are being used by the state to suppress the opposition,” NDF information secretary James Okanya, said at a press conference at NDF offices on Katonga Road on Thurday.
“Maj. Gen. Katumba Wamala’s name will remain on the blacklist until he acts in accordance with the law and explains why he is partisan,” he added.

The criticism follows last weekend’s attack of the Parliamentary Advocacy Forum (PAFO) meeting at Crested Crane Hotel in Jinja by suspected Movement supporters.
Okanya said there was lack of tolerance for opposition views and that the state was only buying time to entrench itself in power.

“We would like to condemn all activities of brutality by state agents. Some of them come in the form of ministers like Daudi Migereko who is alleged to have been behind the Jinja disruption,” he said.
Okanya said state actions indicated the Government was not ready to embrace change to multiparty democracy.

“The NRM government has insisted that only registered political parties and organisations are eligible. This is not acceptable because it undermines the 1995 Constitution, which guarantees individual and group freedom and liberty,” he said.
Okanya said NDF would not allow Movement dictatorship to continue beyond 2006.