Sebaggala, Bwengye in unity talks

Jan 01, 2001

PRESIDENTIAL aspirant Nasser Sebaggala has said he, Francis Bwengye and MP Wasswa Katumba Lule are in talks for a single candidate to be the DP flag bearer in the coming elections.

By John Kakande PRESIDENTIAL aspirant Nasser Sebaggala has said he, Francis Bwengye and MP Wasswa Katumba Lule are in talks for a single candidate to be the DP flag bearer in the coming elections. Sebaggala told The New Vision yesterday said that having three DP candidates would confuse the party supporters. Bwengye yesterday said a deal was near, adding that other discussions chaired by a university academic were going on for multipartyists to agree on a joint candidate. But Aggrey Awori has so far shunned the discussions, he said. Sources said, however, one influential DP supporter recently met Sebaggala and urged him to abandon his bid in favour of Bwengye. Sources said Sebaggala had come under pressure from the pro-Bwengye faction not to merge with Awori or Col Kiiza Besigye, both of whom do not belong to DP. Sebaggala said the selection of a single candidate for DP would be determined by many factors. "One of the factors is the support a presidential aspirant enjoys. We must ask, 'What do we lose or gain by fielding the candidate,'" he said. "Bwengye and Wasswa Lule have better education than me, but I enjoy more support at the grassroot. We have to decide whether to field the person who is better educated or one who enjoys more grassroot support," he said. Sebaggala said all members of DP must work together during the presidential elections. "There are people you must work with if you are to get support. There is no way you can get votes in the north without the support of Zackary Olum and Mariano Drametu," Sebaggala said, adding that he wanted unity in the party. Olum and Drametu belong to the DP breakaway faction led by Bwengye. Sebaggala supports the Ssemogerere group. Bwengye said, "We have gone a long way (negotiations)." He said by nomination day, January 8, they would have reached a consensus. Bwengye, however, said if they did not reach agreement before nomination, they would continue their negotiations. "Even after the nominations other candidates can pull out in favour of one," he noted. He said Awori, a multipartyist, has not been attending the talks. Bwengye said Muhammad Kibirige Mayanja, Wasswa Lule, Sebaggala and "the UPC group" were in the talks." He said Besigye has not been at the talks. "Besigye is a Movementist," he remarked. Ends

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