Ssemogerere to quit
Dec 15, 2002
The Democratic Party President-General, Dr. Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere, on Friday said he plans to step down as party leader after his petition against the Political Organisations Act (POA) has been decided
By Hamis Kaheru
THE Democratic Party President-General, Dr. Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere, on Friday said he plans to step down as party leader after his petition against the Political Organisations Act (POA) has been decided.
“The right time to talk about the kind of leadership DP needs is after the outcome of the petition. What I can say now is that I shall not be a candidate for re-election as party President at that time,†Ssemogerere told a press conference at the party headquarters.
He and other opposition politicians from Reform Agenda filed the petition in the Constitutional Court challenging the POA as unconstitutional, on grounds that it violates the right to freedom of association and establishes a one-party dictatorial state.
The Act restricts activities of political parties at the national headquarters and bars them from opening branches or holding meetings below the national level.
“The outcome of the petition will determine whether DP should register or not,†Ssemogerere told party faithful who jammed the small DP office.
“If the Act is nullified, there will be no reason to register. If it has been modified appropriately, we may say we register and if nothing has been changed, then we may decide on capitulation or defiance,†he said.
“That is the time to decide the leader of the party for capitulation or defiance purposes and in either way I will not be a candidate,†he said.
“I just want to complete this judicial exercise (petition) and I think we should concentrate on fighting the Act first,†he said.
THE Democratic Party President-General, Dr. Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere, on Friday said he plans to step down as party leader after his petition against the Political Organisations Act (POA) has been decided.
“The right time to talk about the kind of leadership DP needs is after the outcome of the petition. What I can say now is that I shall not be a candidate for re-election as party President at that time,†Ssemogerere told a press conference at the party headquarters.
He and other opposition politicians from Reform Agenda filed the petition in the Constitutional Court challenging the POA as unconstitutional, on grounds that it violates the right to freedom of association and establishes a one-party dictatorial state.
The Act restricts activities of political parties at the national headquarters and bars them from opening branches or holding meetings below the national level.
“The outcome of the petition will determine whether DP should register or not,†Ssemogerere told party faithful who jammed the small DP office.
“If the Act is nullified, there will be no reason to register. If it has been modified appropriately, we may say we register and if nothing has been changed, then we may decide on capitulation or defiance,†he said.
“That is the time to decide the leader of the party for capitulation or defiance purposes and in either way I will not be a candidate,†he said.
“I just want to complete this judicial exercise (petition) and I think we should concentrate on fighting the Act first,†he said.