‘DP has betrayed opposition’
May 25, 2009
THE Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has criticised the Democratic Party (DP) for refusing to cooperate with other opposition parties.
By Moses Mulondo
THE Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has criticised the Democratic Party (DP) for refusing to cooperate with other opposition parties.
FDC said this was the main reason why the opposition lost the Rubaga Division seat to NRM’s Peter Ssematimba.
Last year, the inter-party cooperation protocol was signed, but DP failed to turn up yet it had been part of the preparations.
FDC, CP, UPC, and JEEMA signed the protocol.
Explaining for their absence, DP leaders said they were consulting with their members on whether to join the cooperation.
“We are disappointed by DP. Why can’t they learn from the loss in Kalungu East, Kyadondo North, and now Rubaga elections? DP’s arrogance only helps the NRM to gain more power,†FDC spokesperson Wafula Oguttu said.
He said research had shown that many Ugandans, who were tired of the NRM government, wanted the opposition to field one candidate for each post if they were to win the 2011 general elections.
“DP’s refusal to cooperate is costing the opposition a great deal. It is as if DP is interested in being an opposition forever. If they realise the need for cooperation, it will be easy for the opposition to defeat the NRM in the 2011 elections,†Wafula added.
He cited Buikwe South constituency, where opposition parties supported DP’s Michael Lulume Bayiga, saying it led to his success.
DP president John Ssebaana Kizito fired back at FDC.
“We are the ones who are disappointed,†he said.
“We believe FDC fields candidates to deliberately fail ours. In all the recent by-elections it is common knowledge that the DP candidates were more powerful, why didn’t they withdraw theirs if they are sincere?â€
He said DP spearheaded the fight to nullify the Movement system, adding that subscribing to a common opposition electoral platform would mean creation of an opposition movement.
Ssebaana said FDC’s president Kizza Besigye should not have formed another opposition party in 2005 when DP supported his presidential candidature in the 2001, if he was committed to a united opposition.
FDC also expressed dissatisfaction with the way the LC elections were conducted.
“We want the Electoral Commission to tell us the law they used to organise elections for councillors for people with disabilities (PWDs) after the law for that provision had been nullified,†Wafula said.
He added that the commission abused the law which required the declaration of vacant positions 14 days to the nomination.
“They announced vacant positions only two days to the nominations. Besides, many other vacant positions were kept secret and those are the ones NRM is claiming went through unopposed,†Wafula alleged.
He said the FDC legal team was preparing to file a case challenging the LC polls.
Wafula said NRM had rigged elections and intimidated voters to deliberately discourage them from voting.
“Ugandans have lost interest in voting because of NRM’s persistent rigging. That is why only 19% of the legible voters in Rubaga division turned up for the by-election,†Wafula observed.
THE Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has criticised the Democratic Party (DP) for refusing to cooperate with other opposition parties.
FDC said this was the main reason why the opposition lost the Rubaga Division seat to NRM’s Peter Ssematimba.
Last year, the inter-party cooperation protocol was signed, but DP failed to turn up yet it had been part of the preparations.
FDC, CP, UPC, and JEEMA signed the protocol.
Explaining for their absence, DP leaders said they were consulting with their members on whether to join the cooperation.
“We are disappointed by DP. Why can’t they learn from the loss in Kalungu East, Kyadondo North, and now Rubaga elections? DP’s arrogance only helps the NRM to gain more power,†FDC spokesperson Wafula Oguttu said.
He said research had shown that many Ugandans, who were tired of the NRM government, wanted the opposition to field one candidate for each post if they were to win the 2011 general elections.
“DP’s refusal to cooperate is costing the opposition a great deal. It is as if DP is interested in being an opposition forever. If they realise the need for cooperation, it will be easy for the opposition to defeat the NRM in the 2011 elections,†Wafula added.
He cited Buikwe South constituency, where opposition parties supported DP’s Michael Lulume Bayiga, saying it led to his success.
DP president John Ssebaana Kizito fired back at FDC.
“We are the ones who are disappointed,†he said.
“We believe FDC fields candidates to deliberately fail ours. In all the recent by-elections it is common knowledge that the DP candidates were more powerful, why didn’t they withdraw theirs if they are sincere?â€
He said DP spearheaded the fight to nullify the Movement system, adding that subscribing to a common opposition electoral platform would mean creation of an opposition movement.
Ssebaana said FDC’s president Kizza Besigye should not have formed another opposition party in 2005 when DP supported his presidential candidature in the 2001, if he was committed to a united opposition.
FDC also expressed dissatisfaction with the way the LC elections were conducted.
“We want the Electoral Commission to tell us the law they used to organise elections for councillors for people with disabilities (PWDs) after the law for that provision had been nullified,†Wafula said.
He added that the commission abused the law which required the declaration of vacant positions 14 days to the nomination.
“They announced vacant positions only two days to the nominations. Besides, many other vacant positions were kept secret and those are the ones NRM is claiming went through unopposed,†Wafula alleged.
He said the FDC legal team was preparing to file a case challenging the LC polls.
Wafula said NRM had rigged elections and intimidated voters to deliberately discourage them from voting.
“Ugandans have lost interest in voting because of NRM’s persistent rigging. That is why only 19% of the legible voters in Rubaga division turned up for the by-election,†Wafula observed.