'Obote only challenger'

By James Oweka THE only serious challenge to President Yoweri Museveni can come from the Uganda People's Congress (UPC) and former president Dr. Milton Obote, Okullo Epak, Member of Parliament for Oyam south, said on Tuesday. "The only serious challenge to Museveni in the 2001 election is Obote and the UPC. I believe this is because Museveni fears Obote and UPC," added Okullo. He was discussing a paper on, the theme "Was the constitutional amendment justified to the democratisation of Uganda?"at Makerere University. Okullo said by saying Museveni fears Obote, he did not mean that Obote should come to contest the presidency. "But we can find a candidate within UPC because I believe we can perform better," Okullo said amid applause from the students. He said since independence, Uganda has excelled in changing constitutions and the presidency. He said the changes in the presidency have brought dictatorship and the constitutions changed in their interests. Okullo said the recent constitution amendment was good but had a hidden agenda to entrench a one-man Museveni's rule. The current Constitution was enacted in 1995. Ends.