Opposition fail to agree on Entebbe candidate
Sep 12, 2011
OPPOSITION parties have failed to agree on the fielding of a joint candidate in the Entebbe Municipality by-election.
By Jeff Lule
OPPOSITION parties have failed to agree on the fielding of a joint candidate in the Entebbe Municipality by-election.
Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party spokesperson Wafula Oguttu said they resolved to field their own candidate after other parties failed to reach a consensus.
“We have decided to field our own candidate because we were not approached on the matter. We also want to build our support in various areas and we think it is partly an opportunity for us,†he said.
The High Court in Kampala last month nullified the election of Muhammad Kawuma as Entebbe Municipality MP on grounds that the Electoral Commission (EC) did not comply with electoral laws.
Oguttu said they have fronted Wilberforce Seryaazi as their flag-bearer. He is going to contest with Patience Mubangizi (NRM), Mohammed Kawuma (DP), Haawa Nakibuule and Charles Kirumiira, both independents.
Oguttu said they will continue fielding other candidates in other areas where by-elections will be gazetted by the Electoral Commission.
He noted that during the 2011 elections, FDC resolved to leave the central and Lango regions to other political parties where they claimed to have strong support.
He stressed that other opposition political parties always think that FDC should step aside where it is weak, which cannot be accepted.
“That is a wrong perception because we have the biggest number of MPs in Parliament,†Oguttu said.
He said the opposition lost many seats in the 2011 general elections because of lack of teamwork among the opposition parties.
Oguttu said FDC should not be seen as a weakening factor in the opposition when there are no talks.
He stressed that their party was ready for talks within the 60 days given by the EC.
Oguttu said FDC, like any other party, needed to build its membership in the various councils and also increase its support in different areas.
OPPOSITION parties have failed to agree on the fielding of a joint candidate in the Entebbe Municipality by-election.
Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party spokesperson Wafula Oguttu said they resolved to field their own candidate after other parties failed to reach a consensus.
“We have decided to field our own candidate because we were not approached on the matter. We also want to build our support in various areas and we think it is partly an opportunity for us,†he said.
The High Court in Kampala last month nullified the election of Muhammad Kawuma as Entebbe Municipality MP on grounds that the Electoral Commission (EC) did not comply with electoral laws.
Oguttu said they have fronted Wilberforce Seryaazi as their flag-bearer. He is going to contest with Patience Mubangizi (NRM), Mohammed Kawuma (DP), Haawa Nakibuule and Charles Kirumiira, both independents.
Oguttu said they will continue fielding other candidates in other areas where by-elections will be gazetted by the Electoral Commission.
He noted that during the 2011 elections, FDC resolved to leave the central and Lango regions to other political parties where they claimed to have strong support.
He stressed that other opposition political parties always think that FDC should step aside where it is weak, which cannot be accepted.
“That is a wrong perception because we have the biggest number of MPs in Parliament,†Oguttu said.
He said the opposition lost many seats in the 2011 general elections because of lack of teamwork among the opposition parties.
Oguttu said FDC should not be seen as a weakening factor in the opposition when there are no talks.
He stressed that their party was ready for talks within the 60 days given by the EC.
Oguttu said FDC, like any other party, needed to build its membership in the various councils and also increase its support in different areas.