Opposition proposes 3-year transition before next election

KAMPALA - An alliance of four Opposition political parties is proposing a three-year transition period before the next general elections.

Dubbed the ‘Holy Alliance’, the group made up of the Justice Forum (JEEMA), the National Economic Empowerment Dialogue (NEED), the Democratic Party (DP) Bloc and the Conservative Party (CP) plus other change-seeking forces, says it is aimed at charting a new way forward for Uganda.

“By definition, a political transition is an interval between two regimes, and thus the Holy Alliance is proposing a transition period of three years before the next general election is conducted,” reads an excerpt from a booklet launched by the political quartet.

In his endorsement of the agenda, DP-Bloc’s Michael Mabikke, also a former Makindye East Member of Parliament, this period will help eliminate electoral violence.

“We insist on a new transition mode. We want to change government without shedding blood,” Mabikke said.

According to Mabikke and his colleagues, they believe the current electoral system is flawed and cannot produce a legitimate government.

He welcomed all stakeholders to come together to forge a way forward.

“We also invite President [Yoweri] Museveni on that committee, we don’t mind Museveni being part of the committee, he stated.

He clarified adding, “even if he wants extra time of an extra year or two, we shall grant him his request”.

Mabikke made these comments last week at DP-Bloc’s headquarters in Namirembe, Kampala.

This was during the launch of the proposed National Transition, Reform and Reconciliation Agenda, which, according to them will enable Uganda to chart a new way forward devoid of ethnic tensions and potential genocide as was evident in Rwanda in the 1990s.

He said the reason they chose to publish the 16-page plan is because: “We wish the country to read it and implement it. It will lead us to a new Uganda”.

Hundreds of copies of the plan have already been distributed. The recipients of the booklets include mobilisers from various regions of the country including the districts of Gulu, Kampala, Iganga, Lira, Mukono and Kamuli.

The composition of those who attended the political convention included; youth groups, women and men.

During the launch of the reconciliation agenda, Counsel Grace Nakanwagi, one of the people who drafted the document, said women have the majority and should use their numerical strength to their advantage in advancing this cause.

“You recall the genocide in Rwanda, women were the most affected,” Nakanwagi said.
Conservative Party, which was represented by its vice-chairperson, Abbey Muwesi, as well as Fredrick Mutengesa the party’s treasurer, called for unity among Ugandans in the ‘holy alliance’.

Several mobilisers who attended the event were donning branded fabrics depicting the former Leader of Opposition (LOP) Mathias Mpuuga who was boldly displayed on their green and orange T-shirts as their presidential option of choice.

Muwesi commended DP Bloc’s Mukaaku and Mabikke as well as Lubowa for their support and for allowing CP members to share their thoughts.

According to page four, of the plan, “the proposal aims at achieving an orderly and peaceful transfer of power from the NRM regime to the next government, a scenario which has eluded Uganda for all the 62 years of post-independence.”

DP Bloc’s Samuel Lubega Mukaaku, who is a political activist and Democratic Party member, called for reconciliation among all political entities, religions and ethnic groups in Uganda.

“Let us reconcile without precondition,” he stated.

Some of the objectives of this National Transition and Reconciliation Agenda (NTRA) include ensuring non-violent, free fair, credible, verifiable and consequential elections.

They believe this will guarantee a peaceful and smooth transfer of power from one leader to another without bloodshed.

Among the objectives set in the agenda, is to implement a deliberate process of removing the military from politics, elections and civil service.

It is strange, however, that some of the key figures in opposition politics did not show up at the event, some of the missing entities include National Unity Platform’s (NUP) party president Robert Kyagulanyi as well as Democratic Party president Nobert Mao.

Also missing was NEED’s Joseph Kabuleta and Mpuuga, among others to fully endorse this agenda.

The proposed consequential electoral reforms include the adoption of a biometric voting system, a review of the appointment of the Electoral Commission, and a review of the swearing-in of the President.

They also called for the demilitarisation of elections as well as ending the commercialisation of politics. Key among the reforms was to review the announcement of Presidential elections and results.