Otunnu's UPC roadmap is invalid - Akena

By Moses Mulondo

LIRA municipality MP and aspirant for UPC presidency, Jimmy Akena, has rejected the road map issued by Olara Otunnu, arguing he has no power to do so since his term of office expired on March 13, 2015.

According to the program Otunnu issued last week, the party leadership has set April 10-17 as the deadline for receiving applications for presidential candidates,  May 23 and June 8 as campaign period for selected presidential candidates and June 10-12 as dates for holding the national council and the delegates conference.

Asked on Tuesday whether his political camp would comply with the roadmap, Akena said, “According to our constitution, the roadmap has to be approved by the National Council which has not happened. He should have called the National Council before expiry of his term.”

The son of UPC founding President Dr. Milton Obote said what Otunnu issued is null and void since his term expired.

Asked what he thinks is the way forward, Akena said, “There is a case in the court calling for the calling of the National Council. Legally, Otunnu cannot call a national Council because his contract ended.”

On why his group cannot withdraw the case so that the matter is resolved out of court, Akena said, “We can settle it by consent but not to undermine the party constitution. Otunnu cannot be trusted to settle the matter out of court because he has been trying to manipulate the process.”

Whereas all the other parties of the four main parties (NRM, DP and FDC) have already agreed on their roadmap for preparing for the 2016 elections, UPC is still embroiled in sharp disagreements yet time is running out.

The High Court has set April 20 as the date for the hearing of the two UPC cases; one calling for the National Council to be convened and another asking court to force Otunnu out of the office of UPC presidency since his term expired.

But the UPC spokesman Okello Lucima argues that even one a term has expired, the UPC constitution allows Otunnu to continue serving as party president until the next general election.

The roadmap issued by Otunnu hangs in balance since there is already a court injunction which stops him to conduct any party activities not approved by the party’s National Council.