CP elders back suspension of party officials

By Pascal Kwesiga    

Over 30 people claiming to be Conservative Party (CP) founder members have backed a resolution by the National Executive Committee (NEC) to suspend four officials for allegedly trying to relieve party president, John Lukyamuzi of his duties illegally.

In a move aimed at saving the party, the CP members who later confessed that they joined the party after it had been founded said they were in support of the NEC decision to do away with some party officials.

The group is in favour of NEC’s move to suspend the CP's secretary general, Dan Walyemera, the legal affairs official, Ali Mubiru, the national vice chairman, Fredrick Lubowa and programs director Lubega Seguya from the party.

However the suspended officials laughed off their decision, saying they had no powers to vote any official out of the party or to support any resolution.

 "Those are kicks of a dying horse. We are going ahead with the delegates' conference this month to elect new party leaders who will amend the constitution," Mubiru said.

The same officials last month suspended Lukyamuzi from the party presidency over alleged mismanagement of party funds worth sh9b.

They also convened a NEC meeting that ordered the Rubaga South MP to return all the party property in his possession.

A few days later some party officials convened another NEC meeting that suspended Walyemera, Mubiru, Lubowa and Seguya from the party.

They claimed that the four officials had been suspended from the party last year saying, they ‘lacked mandate to take any action against the president.’

Lukyamuzi, who denies any wrong doing, attended the meeting of elderly men claiming to be founders and life members of the party at Pope Paul Memorial hall in Kampala.

Chaired by the CP western region coordinator, Denis Rwabona, the meeting was also attended by Mayanja Nkangi, the chairperson of Uganda Land Commission.

They said that the delegates' conference being organized by the suspended members was illegal and urged the party supporters not to deal with them on matters concerning the party.

Haji Seraji Mugwanya 70, from Luwero district said: "These people disorganizing us have been paid to do so, so that we don't get into power as soon as we had planned." 

 Asked when CP leaders were planning to get into power, Mugwanya replied "Any time. Museveni did not have the support we have in 1980 when I joined CP."

Fred Ssentongo 50, from Kampala who said that he joined CP in 1974 said, "We are popular than Museveni and NRM. We stand high chances of taking over power any time from now."

Mubiru explained that the meeting of the party's old guard was a waste of time since their powers stop at endorsing or blocking a decision for the party to merge with other parties and dissolving it.

He said they [party officials] do not consider themselves as suspended because the NEC meeting that allegedly relieved them of their duties was supposed to have been chaired by the party' secretary general as provided for by the constitution.