UPC elects president today
Mar 12, 2010
THE Uganda People's Congress pick its new leader today. The contestants for the top job are Yona Kanyomozi, Joseph Ochieno, Henry Mayega, Samuel Luwero, Dickson David Opul, Sospater Akwenyu, Jimmy Akena and Olara Otunnu.
By Barbara Among
Yona Kanyomozi
THE former member of the East African Legislative Assembly, Yona Kanyonmozi, is the party’s national chairman. . Kanyomozi, served as minister for co-operatives during the Obote II regime between 1981 and 1985.
In his manifesto, Kanyomozi promises to stand for accountability, equality, integrity, justice, peace, tolerance and transparency.
With the slogan ‘Now is the time’, he promises to stand for only one term. He vows to provide opportunities for the youth to contribute positively to Uganda’s development.
His mission is to build a grassroots party that ensures equitable socio-economic welfare for all Ugandans.
Kanyomozi writes in his manifesto that he will advocate for democracy that prevails over parochial interests.
He promises to streamline the relationship between the party and its investment wing for proper running of party activities. The Milton Obote Foundation, the financial arm of the party, is at the centre of a dispute between outgoing president Miria Obote and leaders of the foundation.
Kanyomozi is not lost on reminding Ugandans of the achievements of UPC. The party, that has ruled Uganda twice under late president Milton Obote, has seen its image tainted over the Buganda crisis and the Luwero war. Kanyomozi promises to nullify what he calls ‘negative propaganda’ against the party.
Although he has served UPC much longer than any of the other candidates, a section of party members feel he is no longer committed to the party because of his close dealings with rival parties.
Joseph Ochieno
This is a man who promises to resuscitate the party, which many see as being on the verge of collapse. Critics argue that Ochieno’s ambition to become president is misplaced, despite the fact that Obote had groomed him for the job. Some UPC members insist that he is better placed as a spokesperson because of his oratory skills.
Ochieno, however, believes that his more than 20 years of service to UPC are enough to bag him the support he needs to win the top position. He has held a few positions in the party.
He was the general secretary of UPC’s external bureau in 1995. He later became its chairman in 1997, a post he holds to date. Ochieno is promising to revive the party structures from the grassroots.
He promises to ensure discipline within the party. For a party whose biggest problem has been the challenge of leadership, Ochieno promises to reconcile the different factions and create a culture of unity.
Ochieno also wants to ensure that the party’s symbiotic relationship with Milton Obote’s foundation is improved by putting the party’s interest first.
One of his many promises is also to re-launch the party’s mouthpiece, The People newspaper. He also promises to promote and protect the party’s legacy.
Henry Mayega
Mayega, UPC’s former vice-chairman, is an advisor to outgoing party president Miria Obote. Born on April 6, 1965 in present day Nakasongola district, Mayega’s dream is to see unity prevail in UPC.
“Promote and achieve reconciliation among party members and obtain party unity,†reads his manifesto. This, he said, will involve bringing back estranged members.
With the campaign slogan ‘Back to the roots’, Mayega promises to revive the relationship UPC had with other congress parties worldwide.
One of the biggest hurdles UPC is faced with is mobilisation of resources. Mayega promises to do that through contacting the party’s old friends, sale of party items, donations and fundraisers.
Like other candidates, the Makerere University don is promising to revise party structures. He also wants to attract the youth, women and workers to the party through clubs and self-help projects, and link them to similar arrangements of other congress parties.
Encouraging open discussion of all issues affecting the party is Mayega’s promise as a way of promoting unity. He promises to co-operate with other political parties.
Samuel Luwero
A little-known businessman, Samuel Luwero, indicates that he was chairman UPC Blue-collar Workers, Kampala branch, between 1962 and 1965. He was also a member of the UPC national executive in 1982 and a former Jinja municipality council member in the early 1980s.
Luwero promises to reconcile the party, organise its structures and to mobilise party members both in and outside Uganda.
He promises to improve the efficiency of the party’s administration by boosting the staff morale through better remuneration and increase emphasis on work ethics. He plans to use his network to mobilise funds for UPC. Like the other candidates, he also promises to promote reconciliation in the party.
Dickson David Opul
Opul is a medical doctor who is widely travelled and has done a lot for the fight against HIV/AIDS.
He does not say what he plans to do for the party in his manifesto. Opul came to the limelight about a decade ago when, after leaving university, he joined HIV/AIDS treatment action groups. He was the main move behind the Uganda Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS.
In his manifesto, Opul comes across as a scientist rather than a politician. His test in politics was when he was the chairman of Livingstone Hall at Makerere University.
Sospater Akwenyu
He has more often come across as the party’s priest than a politician. Ask any of the party members to pray and they will point at Akwenyu. His aim is to revive the congress of the people and reconcile the party.
He promises to innolve all and revive party women and youth leagues. He also promises to revive the party’s newspapers and set up a radio station. Akwenyu, like other candidates, hopes to rebuild the party and recruit new members.
Jimmy Akena
Jimmy Akena is the Lira municipality MP and son of the late president Milton Obote. Akena came into the limelight in 2005, when he returned to Uganda after over 20 years in exile in Zambia. He had fled with his father, who was overthrown in 1985.
Upon his return, Akena ran for the Lira municipality parliamentary seat and beat UPC stalwart Cecilia Ogwal.
Akena wants to take over from his mother, Miria Obote. The real competition for the post is said to be between him and Olara Otunnu.
When elected, Akena promises to put a stop to party wrangles. He also promises to revamp UPC by building structures from the grassroots. Akena said his hope is to have vibrant youth and women’s wings.
He wants to redirect the principles and ideology of the party to fit them into the present age. On funds, Akena promises to maximise the few resources the party has.
The MP has been keeping a low profile. He has been building support within the party structures and is only known for having introduced the ‘waragi bicycle’, a motorised bicycle that uses alcohol as fuel.
Olara Otunnu
The former UN diplomat is the most travelled of the eight candidates.
Otunnu was minister of foreign affairs under the Okello junta which toppled the Obote government in 1985. The Okello regime lasted for only six months and was overthrown by Museveni’s NRA, after which Otunnu fled into exile.
He climbed fast in the UN and in 1997 became the UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflicts, a position he held for almost 10 years. However, people from northern Uganda, where he hails from, accuse him of not having done enough to stop abductions by the LRA. Instead, Otunnu blamed the conflict on the Government, accusing Museveni of carrying out genocide.
Since returning to Uganda last year, Otunnu has been traversing the country, attending various strategic meetings and addressing rallies. He points to his leadership position at various international and local organisations and to several major boards to defend his candidature. He hopes to use his experience in peace building to reconcile UPC.
Yona Kanyomozi
THE former member of the East African Legislative Assembly, Yona Kanyonmozi, is the party’s national chairman. . Kanyomozi, served as minister for co-operatives during the Obote II regime between 1981 and 1985.
In his manifesto, Kanyomozi promises to stand for accountability, equality, integrity, justice, peace, tolerance and transparency.
With the slogan ‘Now is the time’, he promises to stand for only one term. He vows to provide opportunities for the youth to contribute positively to Uganda’s development.
His mission is to build a grassroots party that ensures equitable socio-economic welfare for all Ugandans.
Kanyomozi writes in his manifesto that he will advocate for democracy that prevails over parochial interests.
He promises to streamline the relationship between the party and its investment wing for proper running of party activities. The Milton Obote Foundation, the financial arm of the party, is at the centre of a dispute between outgoing president Miria Obote and leaders of the foundation.
Kanyomozi is not lost on reminding Ugandans of the achievements of UPC. The party, that has ruled Uganda twice under late president Milton Obote, has seen its image tainted over the Buganda crisis and the Luwero war. Kanyomozi promises to nullify what he calls ‘negative propaganda’ against the party.
Although he has served UPC much longer than any of the other candidates, a section of party members feel he is no longer committed to the party because of his close dealings with rival parties.
Joseph Ochieno
This is a man who promises to resuscitate the party, which many see as being on the verge of collapse. Critics argue that Ochieno’s ambition to become president is misplaced, despite the fact that Obote had groomed him for the job. Some UPC members insist that he is better placed as a spokesperson because of his oratory skills.
Ochieno, however, believes that his more than 20 years of service to UPC are enough to bag him the support he needs to win the top position. He has held a few positions in the party.
He was the general secretary of UPC’s external bureau in 1995. He later became its chairman in 1997, a post he holds to date. Ochieno is promising to revive the party structures from the grassroots.
He promises to ensure discipline within the party. For a party whose biggest problem has been the challenge of leadership, Ochieno promises to reconcile the different factions and create a culture of unity.
Ochieno also wants to ensure that the party’s symbiotic relationship with Milton Obote’s foundation is improved by putting the party’s interest first.
One of his many promises is also to re-launch the party’s mouthpiece, The People newspaper. He also promises to promote and protect the party’s legacy.
Henry Mayega
Mayega, UPC’s former vice-chairman, is an advisor to outgoing party president Miria Obote. Born on April 6, 1965 in present day Nakasongola district, Mayega’s dream is to see unity prevail in UPC.
“Promote and achieve reconciliation among party members and obtain party unity,†reads his manifesto. This, he said, will involve bringing back estranged members.
With the campaign slogan ‘Back to the roots’, Mayega promises to revive the relationship UPC had with other congress parties worldwide.
One of the biggest hurdles UPC is faced with is mobilisation of resources. Mayega promises to do that through contacting the party’s old friends, sale of party items, donations and fundraisers.
Like other candidates, the Makerere University don is promising to revise party structures. He also wants to attract the youth, women and workers to the party through clubs and self-help projects, and link them to similar arrangements of other congress parties.
Encouraging open discussion of all issues affecting the party is Mayega’s promise as a way of promoting unity. He promises to co-operate with other political parties.
Samuel Luwero
A little-known businessman, Samuel Luwero, indicates that he was chairman UPC Blue-collar Workers, Kampala branch, between 1962 and 1965. He was also a member of the UPC national executive in 1982 and a former Jinja municipality council member in the early 1980s.
Luwero promises to reconcile the party, organise its structures and to mobilise party members both in and outside Uganda.
He promises to improve the efficiency of the party’s administration by boosting the staff morale through better remuneration and increase emphasis on work ethics. He plans to use his network to mobilise funds for UPC. Like the other candidates, he also promises to promote reconciliation in the party.
Dickson David Opul
Opul is a medical doctor who is widely travelled and has done a lot for the fight against HIV/AIDS.
He does not say what he plans to do for the party in his manifesto. Opul came to the limelight about a decade ago when, after leaving university, he joined HIV/AIDS treatment action groups. He was the main move behind the Uganda Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS.
In his manifesto, Opul comes across as a scientist rather than a politician. His test in politics was when he was the chairman of Livingstone Hall at Makerere University.
Sospater Akwenyu
He has more often come across as the party’s priest than a politician. Ask any of the party members to pray and they will point at Akwenyu. His aim is to revive the congress of the people and reconcile the party.
He promises to innolve all and revive party women and youth leagues. He also promises to revive the party’s newspapers and set up a radio station. Akwenyu, like other candidates, hopes to rebuild the party and recruit new members.
Jimmy Akena
Jimmy Akena is the Lira municipality MP and son of the late president Milton Obote. Akena came into the limelight in 2005, when he returned to Uganda after over 20 years in exile in Zambia. He had fled with his father, who was overthrown in 1985.
Upon his return, Akena ran for the Lira municipality parliamentary seat and beat UPC stalwart Cecilia Ogwal.
Akena wants to take over from his mother, Miria Obote. The real competition for the post is said to be between him and Olara Otunnu.
When elected, Akena promises to put a stop to party wrangles. He also promises to revamp UPC by building structures from the grassroots. Akena said his hope is to have vibrant youth and women’s wings.
He wants to redirect the principles and ideology of the party to fit them into the present age. On funds, Akena promises to maximise the few resources the party has.
The MP has been keeping a low profile. He has been building support within the party structures and is only known for having introduced the ‘waragi bicycle’, a motorised bicycle that uses alcohol as fuel.
Olara Otunnu
The former UN diplomat is the most travelled of the eight candidates.
Otunnu was minister of foreign affairs under the Okello junta which toppled the Obote government in 1985. The Okello regime lasted for only six months and was overthrown by Museveni’s NRA, after which Otunnu fled into exile.
He climbed fast in the UN and in 1997 became the UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflicts, a position he held for almost 10 years. However, people from northern Uganda, where he hails from, accuse him of not having done enough to stop abductions by the LRA. Instead, Otunnu blamed the conflict on the Government, accusing Museveni of carrying out genocide.
Since returning to Uganda last year, Otunnu has been traversing the country, attending various strategic meetings and addressing rallies. He points to his leadership position at various international and local organisations and to several major boards to defend his candidature. He hopes to use his experience in peace building to reconcile UPC.