UPC presidential candidate requests for extension

By Moses Mulondo 

Dr. Dan Okello, one of the nine UPC presidential candidates, has written to the party leadership requesting for extension of the period for district conferences.

Addressing a press conference at Speke Hotel on Friday, Okello said, “Since the Delegates Conference has been postponed by one month to July 12, 2015, the district conference should also be postponed from May 30, to June 30, 2015 to allow us ample time reach all members.”

Okello said the re-opening of the presidential nomination affected the roadmap and therefore necessitated its adjustment.

“The request follows distortion and several omissions in the UPC roadmaps which necessitate revision of the program without which there cannot be free and fair elections. We need ample time to move to the 112 districts,” he explained.

The UPC Presidential candidates have been given a condition of canvassing for support in all the districts and only those who will have gained support from at least a third of the districts will be duly nominated to compete in the Delegates Conference.

He also complained that the party electoral commission is yet to avail to the candidates a list of the delegates.

“The candidates do not know who the delegates are. Some candidates have allegedly been able to get the list through the back door. This is a clear evidence of election rigging,” Okello argued.

He also expressed disapproval of the requirement for a candidate to get majority votes in at least 37 districts.

“Suppose only one out of the 9 candidates wins in 37 districts? Does it mean the district conferences will have elected the new party president? What will the Delegates Conference do? The UPC constitutes gives that mandate to the Delegates Conference to elect a party president,” he said.

UPC electoral commission chairman Eng. John Buzu said, “We had a meeting with the party president on that matter and agreed not to extend the date for district conferences.”

On the availability of register containing the delegates, Buzu said, “He is mistaken on that. Each district has its register which is available to all members.”

Buzu informed The New Vision that nine candidates have already picked and returned nomination forms for the UPC presidential race.

These nine candidates include Moroto County MP Benson Obua Ogwal, Lira municipality MP Jimmy Akena, David Pulkol, UPC Vice President Joseph Bosa, UPC chairman Prof. Edward Kakonge, Julius Ochen, Dr. Dan Okello, David Nyote, and Sam Wandeka.

Buzu said there are also three members who picked the forms but did not return them and these include Saucipata Akwenyu, Joseph Otieno and Ivan Rwakabogo.

Due to internal wrangles and failure of Milton Obote Foundation governors to fund the party adequately as required, UPC has been unable to hold grassroots elections across the country.

The grassroots elections have been only held in Lango and for the rest of the country the party leaders have decided they will use the 2010 delegates for their forthcoming district conferences and Delegates Conference during which they will elect a new president.