Ssemo fires DP secretary
Oct 20, 2004
THE Democratic Party (DP) president general, Paul Ssemogerere, has suspended his secretary general Mariano Drametu for convening a national council meeting last week
BY JUDE ETYANG
THE Democratic Party (DP) president general, Paul Ssemogerere, has suspended his secretary general Mariano Drametu for convening a national council meeting last week.
Ssemmogerere, speaking in a battle tone, said he had taken the “tough decision†in accordance with the party constitution, which gives him powers to punish indisciplined officials who act against party interests.
Drametu convened the national council meeting at Namboole Stadium last Friday. The meeting resolved that DP registers under the contested political parties law by November 30, clashing with DP’s position on the matter.
Ssemmogerere said he had appointed DP legal adviser and executive member John Kakooza as acting secretary general.
“After due consultations and given my responsibility and powers under article 27 of the party constitution, I have today decided to temporarily suspend the interim secretary general, Mariano Drametu, for indiscipline and I have appointed J.B Kakooza acting secretary general,†Ssemmogerere said at a press conference at City House in Kampala, yesterday.
He was flanked by Kakooza, party treasurer John Ssebaana Kizito, organising secretary Damiano Lubega, party lawyers Joseph Balikuddembe and Erias Lukwago and Uganda Young Democrats vice-president Kenneth Paul Kakande.
When told about the suspension, Drametu said he was still the DP secretary general. He said Ssemmogerere did not have any powers to suspend him.
“He has no powers to do anything like that, he knows very well he cannot do it. He is only fooling himself. I am still the secretary general of the party,†Drametu said.
But Ssemogerere said, “When you are in an organisation, you do not act unilaterally, ignoring the party leadership.
“The (national) chairman (Boniface Byanyima) who is supposed to preside over such meetings directed Drametu not to call that meeting but he went ahead and called it. You have seen how defiant Drametu has been, he was not acting in the interest of the party,†he said.
Ssemmogerere, whose leadership is being rocked by an apparent split as some members demand that the party be registered, repeatedly said he was in control.
“As long as I am the president of the party, I can’t allow this conduct to go on even for one day,†he said.
He said other party officials including vice-president Zachary Olum, who attended Drametu’s meeting, were being probed and that action would be taken against them if justification was found.
On presidential hopeful Hajji
Nasser Sebaggala and MP Michael Mabikke, the masterminds of the meeting, Ssemmogerere said they were not catered for in the constitution because they were not office-bearers.
THE Democratic Party (DP) president general, Paul Ssemogerere, has suspended his secretary general Mariano Drametu for convening a national council meeting last week.
Ssemmogerere, speaking in a battle tone, said he had taken the “tough decision†in accordance with the party constitution, which gives him powers to punish indisciplined officials who act against party interests.
Drametu convened the national council meeting at Namboole Stadium last Friday. The meeting resolved that DP registers under the contested political parties law by November 30, clashing with DP’s position on the matter.
Ssemmogerere said he had appointed DP legal adviser and executive member John Kakooza as acting secretary general.
“After due consultations and given my responsibility and powers under article 27 of the party constitution, I have today decided to temporarily suspend the interim secretary general, Mariano Drametu, for indiscipline and I have appointed J.B Kakooza acting secretary general,†Ssemmogerere said at a press conference at City House in Kampala, yesterday.
He was flanked by Kakooza, party treasurer John Ssebaana Kizito, organising secretary Damiano Lubega, party lawyers Joseph Balikuddembe and Erias Lukwago and Uganda Young Democrats vice-president Kenneth Paul Kakande.
When told about the suspension, Drametu said he was still the DP secretary general. He said Ssemmogerere did not have any powers to suspend him.
“He has no powers to do anything like that, he knows very well he cannot do it. He is only fooling himself. I am still the secretary general of the party,†Drametu said.
But Ssemogerere said, “When you are in an organisation, you do not act unilaterally, ignoring the party leadership.
“The (national) chairman (Boniface Byanyima) who is supposed to preside over such meetings directed Drametu not to call that meeting but he went ahead and called it. You have seen how defiant Drametu has been, he was not acting in the interest of the party,†he said.
Ssemmogerere, whose leadership is being rocked by an apparent split as some members demand that the party be registered, repeatedly said he was in control.
“As long as I am the president of the party, I can’t allow this conduct to go on even for one day,†he said.
He said other party officials including vice-president Zachary Olum, who attended Drametu’s meeting, were being probed and that action would be taken against them if justification was found.
On presidential hopeful Hajji
Nasser Sebaggala and MP Michael Mabikke, the masterminds of the meeting, Ssemmogerere said they were not catered for in the constitution because they were not office-bearers.