A new face for the DP?

The announcement that Emmanuel Wamala Kalule, an economist and Head of Planning at the Bank of Uganda is vying for top leadership of the Democratic Party surprised many people. Patrick Luganda caught up with him and below are excerptsQuestion: It is in the news that you are lined up to succeed Dr. Kawanga Ssemogerere as the DP leader. Is it Dr. Ssemogerere who wished this to be so or is it a section of the DP leaders that are backing you?Answer: It has already been stated that Dr. Ssemogerere has not endorsed anyone to succeed him. Indeed, it is true that the chief executive of the DP is elected by the delegates’ conference. To be elected one needs the support of a cross section of DP members. DP members from the northern, eastern and western parts of the country have expressed the wish that I head our country’s oldest party. It is an honour to be considered for the position. However, the final decision will be made by the delegates’ conference.There are some leaders in the DP who have dismissed your claims. What is your comment?To the best of my knowledge, no DP executive has disputed the fact that I have been requested to stand for the chief executive position of the party. Nevertheless, it may be true that some DP executives are supporting another person for the position. That is a desirable situation. In the DP, competition is always welcome.In the absence of a delegates’ conference, how will you legally be elected to the top leadership?A delegates’ conference will take place, sooner or later.You say you plan to revamp the party. In your view, what is wrong with the present party set-up and what new innovation are you going to introduce?The political context in Uganda has changed considerably since the institution of DP’s current set-up. Hence, it is prudent to re-engineer the DP. The strategy for doing so is, for obvious reasons, privileged information. However, it should be noted that the process of rejuvenating the DP was started under the leadership of Dr. Ssemogerere. The decision to rejuvenate the party was reached by consensus. It is widely supported by the DP membership. It is neither a secret nor controversial.In view of the restrictions imposed by article 269 on the freedom of political parties to organise, how do you intend to mobilise and organise countrywide?Article 269 obviously hampers the operation of DP. Nevertheless, DP has scored key election victories, including the election of Mr. John Ssebaana Kizito. DP’s mobilisation machinery can be slowed but not stopped. DP’s political adversaries are undoubtedly desperately seeking the key to DP’s resilience. We are not about to reveal the key’s whereabouts.There are two main factions of the DP with the UYD threatening to form a third, how do you intend to unite them?The UYD is not, repeat not, a faction of DP. It is part and parcel of the DP. It has the active support of the DP’s executive. Indeed, there is no “factionalism” in DP. There are some leadership disagreements, which the key players are committed to resolving.Have you widely consulted within the DP leadership about your intention to lead the party. Have you met Bwengye, Ssemogerere, Lubega and others to discuss your plans? If so did you meet at a round table or individually?Consultation is a DP tradition. Every aspiring leader of DP naturally consults. There are, however, forces that are constantly attempting to create disharmony between various individuals in the DP. Sometimes, they succeed at misinforming the general public about the DP. In the long run, they will fail. DP was moulded out of steely resolve. No one, nobody, will derail DP.Are you ready to sacrifice your job at BOU to enter into full time politics? In case you are requested to tender your resignation today to join politics are you prepared for it?A request to vie for the leadership of the DP does not constitute a resignation from one’s job. And resignation from BOU into full time politics would be congruent with my commitment to public service. Professional acumen is also a useful tool in politics. Sacrifice is inevitable in any worthwhile endeavour.What is your political experience?An organiser of political ground troops. An analyst of political events, especially the development implications of political decisions. A formulator of political strategy.There is talk doing the rounds that you were a strong underground supporter of the DP candidate in the presidential and mayoral elections since 1996. Our sources further claim that you were actively supportive of Dr. Besigye. Comment.What one sees, hears and does underground is supposed to remain underground. However, it is no secret that I have always been a member of the DP, the party that a certain head of state is said to have belonged to at one time.There are many reformists who in essence belong to the Movement. Are you going to try and woo them to join the DP?The DP as well as the Movement party, the Reform Agenda party, the UPC and other political parties are constantly wooing potential members. C’est le jeu politique. (That is the political game.)You talk of leading and the revamping of the DP but you seem to shy away from the question of standing for President of Uganda and offering your candidature in 2006. Do you feel that you are not yet Presidential material?Dr. Ssemogerere, despite being the leader of DP, did not run for President in 2001. Mr. James Wapakabhulo, despite his reputation, did not run either. Those were rational decisions. It was not linked to those gentlemen’s ability to be effective heads of state. One can serve one’s country well without being President.Tell us about your personal life.The Lord has blessed me with a large and loving family.Tell us about your schooling, work experience.Thanks to my hardworking parents as well as the Ugandan taxpayer, I was privileged to attend Makerere University, where I obtained a Bachelor of Commerce degree, and Boston University where I obtained a masters degree in economics and business administration. As regards work, I have had the privilege of working in Uganda and abroad, both in the private sector and the public sector. I owe much to the Lord, my family and to the citizens of Uganda.