Bukenya pushes for regional based coalition

Mar 18, 2015

Former Vice President Prof. Gilbert Balibaseka Bukenya has proposed a coalition of leaders with regional bases as the best kind of coalition that will remove President Yoweri Museveni from power

By Moses Mulondo

Former Vice President Prof. Gilbert Balibaseka Bukenya has proposed a coalition of leaders with regional bases as the best kind of coalition that will remove President Yoweri Museveni from power.


“The next coalitions which will make a bigger impact will be based on individual popularity within various communities rather than party popularity. Regional based popularity will be the best determining factor for strong coalitions,” Bukenya elaborated.

In an exclusive interview with The New Vision, the former NRM chairman for the Buganda region says there is need to create alliances based on politicians with high popularity from their regions of origin.

“I can give you an example. In FDC, Nathan Nandala Mafabi has so much support from his home region of Bugisu. It is that kind of alliance based on regional bases that worked for Uhuru Kenyata-William Ruto alliance. I see so many leaders of opposition parties who do not have solid support from where they come from,” Bukenya explained.

Arguing that governments are won on the number of votes, Bukenya said, “Uhuru was very popular in the central province and Ruto very popular in his Rift Valley province and that got them victory. We need an alliance of regional power brokers to defeat an incumbent like Museveni. This is where we should put more concentration not on parties.”

Bukenya, who has already declared that he will stand for presidency in 2016, proposed that a power sharing arrangement can be crafted so that each of the regional power broker takes over one of the top government positions.

“Therefore, we need to reach out to popular leaders in those regional blocks who can mobilize their regions to vote for change. That is a sure deal that will enable us to easily defeat President Museveni,” he stated.

In determining the coalition presidential candidate, Bukenya said, it would be practical that in the government of national unity the leader who delivers the highest number of votes becomes the president, the second becomes Prime Minister, the third becomes the Speaker and other cabinet positions are shared following the same formula.

Bukenya said if the committee tasked with selecting a coalition candidate selects a person who does not have solid support from his home region, he would not be part of that kind of coalition.

On whether he thinks he is better placed to be the coalition presidential flag bearer, Bukenya said, “I have created networks in different regions of the country. In Buganda alone, I have 1500 mobilisers in every sub county and 4000 mobilisers in every county. It is on that basis that I think am better placed to be the joint coalition candidate.”
Bukenya argued that the major reason why Dr. Kizza Besigye has failed to defeat President Museveni is because he does not have solid support from the western region where he comes from.

Between FDC president Gen Mugisha Muntu and Nandala Mafabi, Bukenya said, “Unlike Nandala who has solid support in his region, Muntu does not have solid support from his western region. I would therefore go for Nandala.”

UPC presidential aspirant David Pulkol has proposed a similar arrangement based organizing each sub region around its core demands.

“If each of our communities agrees on particular demands and the opposition coalition with regional power brokers commits itself to fulfilling those demands, it will be very easy to remove the NRM from power,” Pulkol argued.
 
Towards the 2011 elections, leaders in the Buganda region including former Buganda Katikkiro Mulwanyammuli Ssemogerere created a similar regional force dubbed Ssuubi 2011 to campaign to advance Buganda’s interests and candidates devoted to the same cause.

Common names mentioned for a potential coalition candidate include former premier Amama Mbabazi, Prof. Gilbert Balibaseka Bukenya, Dr. Aggrey Kiyingi, Erias Lukwago, Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga, Norbert Mao, Gen. Mugisha Muntu, Rebecca Kadaga, and Dr. Olara Otunnu.
 

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