I don't fear UNEB - Sebaggala

Jan 01, 2001

PRESIDENTIAL aspirant Nasser Sebaggala has said his talks with Francis Bwengye have not been prompted by problems with his academic papers, but because he thinks DP leaders should show maturity before party supporters, reports.

PRESIDENTIAL aspirant Nasser Sebaggala has said his talks with Francis Bwengye have not been prompted by problems with his academic papers, but because he thinks DP leaders should show maturity before party supporters, reports. Emmy Allio quotes sources as saying relations between Sebaggala and party chief Paul Ssemogerere are strained. The sources said Sebaggala sought talks with Bwengye after he received signals that his academic qualifications may not meet Electoral Commission standards. Sebaggala, Bwengye and Wasswa Lule have been in talks to unite DP members to back one candidate in the coming presidential elections. It is not clear who the Uganda Young Democrats will support. "We are not discussing positions. We do not want the party divided when it comes to backing a presidential candidate," Bwengye said yesterday. "The constitution bars us from fielding any presidential candidate. But party leaders can agree on a candidate and ask their supporters to vote for him," Ssebaggala said. He said belonging to a party is like being a member of the clan. He said, "We are trying to sit down to put our house (DP) in order irrespective of Ssemogerere or Bwengye camps." Ssemogerere and DP National chairman Boniface Byanyima have shown preference for Kiiza Besigye. President Museveni on Saturday accused Besigye of joining political parties to fight the Movement. Reacting to Museveni's remarks, Mr. Louis Otika, Besigye's campaign coordinator, said in a statement yesterday, "Besigye has made no secret of that fact that he is talking to multipartyists and has no apologies to anybody at all." A source said, "The problem the Ssemogerere camp faces is the popularity of Ssebaggala among the radical UYD who may choose to follow Ssebaggala to the Bwengye camp." UYD secretary general Michael Mabikke said UYD wanted DP unity and efforts were being made to see that the party backs a candidate. Mabikke supported the on-going talks, adding that UYD was not siding with the two camps but wanted a stronger and united DP leadership. He said, "I am optimistic that DP will reach a consensus on a single candidate to back." Sources, however, said picking between Besigye and Bwengye may be hard for DP considering that Bwengye is backed by a UYD section. Ends

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});