TDA: Why joint presidential candidate failed

By Vision Reporter

The Democratic Alliance (TDA) on Friday explained its failure to come up with a joint presidential candidate in the 2016 polls.

Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) flagbearer Dr. Kizza Besigye explained that it’s not true that former Prime Minister, Amama Mbabazi, did not emerge a sole candidate for (TDA) because he is still in NRM.  

"We felt that traditional opposition voters would not take a former NRM leader and even NRM change members wouldn't vote for me. One candidate would have been a good strategy but we have very little time and that is our biggest enemy.  We talked at length on the option of fronting two candidates for the election and it has its positives,” Besigye explained.

He told a news conference at TDA office in Kampala: “Our reservations on the candidature of Mbabazi were on his non-committal to the tenets of our struggle.

"He answered our questions by saying he would commit to those principles by turning from Saul to Paul. However, our central question was at what point would that Saul turned Paul become the leader of the disciples.”
 

true
Amama Mbabazi in consultations during the joint press conference at TDA on Friday. (Credit: Mary Kansiime)

Flanked by other TDA leaders, Besigye explained that they were careful and interrogative so that they don't get just change but qualitative change.

TDA is a coalition of the main opposition political parties and pressure groups seeking to wrest power from the ruling NRM at presidential and other elective positions across the country.

“Mbabazi said he may not have corrected NRM wrongs but was now reformed. We now welcome that the Saul can become a Paul. This is a conversation is still going on. We haven’t given up. It does not have to be me. It has to be someone with a promise. We are setting up a contact group to have continued conversation with Mbabazi so that conversation can continue," Besigye said.

After failing to agree on a joint candidate, TDA relented and backed both Besigye and Mbabazi to run as presidential candidate in the 2016 polls.

Former Vice President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya has also announced that he will contest as presidential candidate; bringing a new twist to the presidential race jigsaw.
 

true
Former UPC President Olara Otunnu and TDA spokesperson Wafula Oguttu during press conference at TDA Offices in Naguru on Wednesday. (Credit: Mary Kansiime)

In a statement issued on Wednesday evening TDA said: "The Summit of TDA has not arrived at a consensus on a TDA joint Presidential candidate. The Summit has not been able to build consensus on either Rt. Hon. Amama Mbabazi or Col (Rtd) Dr. Kizza Besigye."

"It is therefore clear that the membership of the Alliance will take different paths in respect to the matter of a presidential candidate.  CP and FDC have endorsed the candidature of Col (Rtd) Dr. Kizza Besigye; while DP, Go-Forward Pro-Change, PPP, UFA, and UPC have endorsed the candidature of Rt Hon Amama Mbabazi."

"JEEMA and PNU have not recorded their preference for Presidential Candidate. Their Presidents were not present in the Summit at the time of the decision. 

"The Summit of TDA will convene at an appropriate moment to consider the other aspects of TDA work, in respect to continuing to explore unity and cooperation in pursuing the goals and objectives of the Alliance," said the statement read out by Wafula Oguttu, Leader of Opposition in Parliament.



Also related to this story

Besigye should join me, says Mbabazi

Baryamureeba launches presidential bid

Removing UPC flag from TDA offices