Ssemo Faces Expulsion From DP

PRESIDENTIAL candidate Francis Bwengye has said Dr Paul Ssemogerere faces expulsion from the Democtratic Party for posing as the party leader and conducting business on its behalf, reports James Mujuni. In an interview on the Mbarara-based Greater Afrikan Radio, Bwengye said Ssemogerere had continued to act as the party president despite a vote of no-confidence moved against him by party members last year. "The DP national conference suspended Ssemogerere and appointed me as the new party president. At our meeting at Hotel Africana today (Tuesday) we resolved to make it clear to the public that Ssemogerere ceased to be party president. If he does not refrain from masquerading, we are contemplating sacking him from the party," Bwengye said. He said Ssemogerere ruined DP by acting unilaterally and usurping the powers of the its leaders. "He first joined UPC in 1996 without consulting us and now he says DP has joined Col. Kizza Besigye without consulting us. He should join Besigye as an individual. You cannot carry the party in a briefcase," Bwengye added. He appealed to Ugandans to remain calm during presidential campaigns and warned fellow candidates against threatening violence. "Do not be scared of people who are wielding hammers threatening to hack others to death or those who say there will be war if they lost. Uganda no longer wants war. Whoever loses this election should retire home honourably," he said. "We are six candidates and all of us cannot fit into State House. If I lost the election I would not go to the bush to fight Museveni. If I beat him, I would expect him to retire home peacefully," Bwengye added. He said he was contesting on individual merit although he remained an ardent DP supporter. "I contested as Bwengye but a cow cannot leave its horns behind. I am still a DP supporter although I enjoy a lot of support from Movement cadres and other party supporters," he said. He said friends of DP abroad had promised the party an FM radio station. Ends