No action on sacked officials-UPC

Dec 22, 2011

Uganda Peoples Congress has ruled out taking any disciplinary action against five party officials that were sacked recently.

 By Jeff Andrew Lule

 
The Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) party has ruled out taking any disciplinary action against five party officials that were sacked recently.
 
“We have an established disciplinary organ but we will not take any disciplinary action against the members. An action can be taken when other party members file complaints to the committee. At the moment, no application has been filed,” UPC’s vice-president, Joseph Bossa, said.
 
He was speaking to journalists at the party’s weekly press briefing in Kampala.
 
The party boss, Olara Otunnu, recently fired five officials. The officials are Maj. Edward Rurangaranga (party chairman), John Odit (secretary general), David Pulkol (secretary for policy and national mobilisation), Moses Nuwagaba (party spokesperson) and Robert Kanusu, the press secretary.
 
Bossa said the differences in the party were between those who want the new systems in place and those who prefer the old ones.
 
He said members would have used the established party organs to address their concerns instead of using the media to fight the party leadership.
 
Bossa explained that the party had various platforms to address grievances.
 
He added that all appointees are expected to support their boss to fulfil his mandate, but not to contest his decisions.
He noted that the five were not sacked, but only relieved of their responsibilities.
 
He also said they would be assigned other tasks in the party after the cabinet discusses the issue.
 
Bossa defended Otunnu’s action, saying it was constitutional and aimed at establishing strong functional systems to strengthen the party.
 
“Otunnu has no problem with any of the officials because he knows they are being used. He appointed them and saw it necessary to replace them. He took a firm political decision, which is not easy for many leaders,” Bossa said.
 
“We want a party with disciplined members. We shall not accept to be diverted by a few who don’t want change. Some members are against the committee for planning, budgeting. and accountability,” he added.

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