Confusion as Reform Agenda makes U-turn
Apr 27, 2004
Reform Agenda’s initiative to register as a political party seems to have shaken the foundation of the recently agreed co-operation of the seven opposition groups (G-7).
By Joshua Kato
and Asuman Bisiika
Reform Agenda’s initiative to register as a political party seems to have shaken the foundation of the recently agreed co-operation of the seven opposition groups (G-7).
The group had hitherto refused to register under the Political Parties and Organisations Act (PPOA). The revelation also indicated a split within the ranks of the Reform Agenda itself, since some of its members are for registering and taking part in the political transition, while others including Kizza Besigye are for a boycott.
The decision is also surprising in one way, since RA is still pursuing a court petition together with other political groupings against the Political Parties and Organisations act (PPOA).
“They would regret their actions because their freedoms would be limited by the restrictions of the law. There is a general consensus among the opposition groups that we wait for the outcome of our court petition, otherwise how can reform agenda register under a flawed law that they are challenging in court?†Dr. James Rwanyarare UPC presidential policy commission chairman asks.
Betty Kamya, RA spokesperson, says they have decided to register after a few bad articles were annulled out of the PPOA. “First of all, the Constitutional court annulled articles 18 and 19 of the PPOA, that were preventing us from going down to the people,†she says.
She adds that other articles were taken to court by Uganda People’s Congress. She hopes that by July, they will have been disposed of. “We have just decided to start early enough. By the time these other articles are disposed of in July, we shall have gone a long way and we shall simply register,†she says. She adds, “The fact is that all political parties shall register as soon as things change for the better. We have just started early because we are sure things are changing,†she says.
Geoffrey Ekanya, RA secretary general says, “Yes we know the limitations the law imposes. But there are several areas of this country where you cannot step, mainly because you are not registered.â€
“We have taken this step to register because we want to go into all these areas,†he adds.
RA might be taking the initiative to register because they want to attract supporters of other unregistered parties into their fold. Unlike the traditional political parties like DP and UPC, RA does not have a registry of its supporters. “Let us open up branches. Let our supporters get an identity as they asked us during the conference,†Kamya says.
Once they register, the group will be able to address rallies through out the country and register their voters. The registration process is itself a way of reaching down to the people, since the group has to collect signatures from two thirds of the districts of Uganda. Reports from upcountry districts indicate that RA has already began under-ground work to win voters.
As it turns out, the decision to register was taken against the will of Colonel Kizza Besigye. Certainly, there are divisions even within RA ranks over the issue. However, Ekanya says that Besigye is not larger than RA. “We have to accept the views of our supporters, not those of one person,†he says.
Besigye’s hinting at boycotting the 2006 election process shocked many of his supporters. In fact, while a few of them welcomed the idea, others did not. “In my opinion, I don’t think that we should not contest the 2006 elections. We shall contest them with or without Besigye,†says Christopher Kibazanga, an officials.
Kibazanga’s statement indicates that slowly but surely, Kampala based RA is detaching itself from the control of the retired Colonel. The situation has not been helped by the conspicuous absence of Winnie Byanyima. There are reports from within that RA is now looking at the likes of veteran politician Sam Njuba and Garuga Musinguzi for direction.
It is not surprising that at Monday’s press briefing, RA’s big guns like Betty Kamya, Geoffrey Ekanya and Sam Njuba were conspicuously missing. These are proponents of registering. At the press briefing, the RA made a U-turn and said it was not going to register.
Most members of the Kampala group want Besigye to return as soon as possible if he is to remain meaningful in the politics of this country.
The youth wing of the group, led by the likes of Moses Nuwagaba late last year launched a campaign dubbed, return Colonel Kizza Besigye. They were not successful.
“ We don’t want to create an Obote like control of the party. We want to have all our leaders inside the country as we drive towards 2006,†a member of the party says. He added that they are aware that the Colonel will not be legible to stand, if he does not return immediately.
According to the PPOA, one must have spent the preceding three years in Uganda to take up any leadership position in a political party. Besigye may technically be ruled out if he does not return in time. He left the country in 2001.
Boycotting election processes in Uganda has never been successful. DP boycotted the 1996 parliamentary elections, in protest to what they called a flawed Presidential election, but ended up losing ground to both the movement and other parties in their hitherto known strongholds.
News of RA registration were received with mixed feelings by members of other political groups. Peter Walubiri of UPC says that RA is registering under a bad law. “ I hope they know the implications,†he says.
Hussein Kyanjo of Justice Forum says that RA has not yet communicated to the other groups about their intention to register. “ It would be regrettable for them to break ranks with us, but our assumption remains that they are not going to register now. In the meantime, I think the position of the G-7 on boycotting the registration process is still holding,†he says.
Dr. Paul Ssemogerere chooses to be cautious, “ RA is entitled to their right to decide. This cooperation does not take away their autonomy,†he says.
However, there is information that immediately after RA made their decision to register, DP parliamentary caucus is said to have held a crisis meeting that discussed the prospect of registering.
Ends
and Asuman Bisiika
Reform Agenda’s initiative to register as a political party seems to have shaken the foundation of the recently agreed co-operation of the seven opposition groups (G-7).
The group had hitherto refused to register under the Political Parties and Organisations Act (PPOA). The revelation also indicated a split within the ranks of the Reform Agenda itself, since some of its members are for registering and taking part in the political transition, while others including Kizza Besigye are for a boycott.
The decision is also surprising in one way, since RA is still pursuing a court petition together with other political groupings against the Political Parties and Organisations act (PPOA).
“They would regret their actions because their freedoms would be limited by the restrictions of the law. There is a general consensus among the opposition groups that we wait for the outcome of our court petition, otherwise how can reform agenda register under a flawed law that they are challenging in court?†Dr. James Rwanyarare UPC presidential policy commission chairman asks.
Betty Kamya, RA spokesperson, says they have decided to register after a few bad articles were annulled out of the PPOA. “First of all, the Constitutional court annulled articles 18 and 19 of the PPOA, that were preventing us from going down to the people,†she says.
She adds that other articles were taken to court by Uganda People’s Congress. She hopes that by July, they will have been disposed of. “We have just decided to start early enough. By the time these other articles are disposed of in July, we shall have gone a long way and we shall simply register,†she says. She adds, “The fact is that all political parties shall register as soon as things change for the better. We have just started early because we are sure things are changing,†she says.
Geoffrey Ekanya, RA secretary general says, “Yes we know the limitations the law imposes. But there are several areas of this country where you cannot step, mainly because you are not registered.â€
“We have taken this step to register because we want to go into all these areas,†he adds.
RA might be taking the initiative to register because they want to attract supporters of other unregistered parties into their fold. Unlike the traditional political parties like DP and UPC, RA does not have a registry of its supporters. “Let us open up branches. Let our supporters get an identity as they asked us during the conference,†Kamya says.
Once they register, the group will be able to address rallies through out the country and register their voters. The registration process is itself a way of reaching down to the people, since the group has to collect signatures from two thirds of the districts of Uganda. Reports from upcountry districts indicate that RA has already began under-ground work to win voters.
As it turns out, the decision to register was taken against the will of Colonel Kizza Besigye. Certainly, there are divisions even within RA ranks over the issue. However, Ekanya says that Besigye is not larger than RA. “We have to accept the views of our supporters, not those of one person,†he says.
Besigye’s hinting at boycotting the 2006 election process shocked many of his supporters. In fact, while a few of them welcomed the idea, others did not. “In my opinion, I don’t think that we should not contest the 2006 elections. We shall contest them with or without Besigye,†says Christopher Kibazanga, an officials.
Kibazanga’s statement indicates that slowly but surely, Kampala based RA is detaching itself from the control of the retired Colonel. The situation has not been helped by the conspicuous absence of Winnie Byanyima. There are reports from within that RA is now looking at the likes of veteran politician Sam Njuba and Garuga Musinguzi for direction.
It is not surprising that at Monday’s press briefing, RA’s big guns like Betty Kamya, Geoffrey Ekanya and Sam Njuba were conspicuously missing. These are proponents of registering. At the press briefing, the RA made a U-turn and said it was not going to register.
Most members of the Kampala group want Besigye to return as soon as possible if he is to remain meaningful in the politics of this country.
The youth wing of the group, led by the likes of Moses Nuwagaba late last year launched a campaign dubbed, return Colonel Kizza Besigye. They were not successful.
“ We don’t want to create an Obote like control of the party. We want to have all our leaders inside the country as we drive towards 2006,†a member of the party says. He added that they are aware that the Colonel will not be legible to stand, if he does not return immediately.
According to the PPOA, one must have spent the preceding three years in Uganda to take up any leadership position in a political party. Besigye may technically be ruled out if he does not return in time. He left the country in 2001.
Boycotting election processes in Uganda has never been successful. DP boycotted the 1996 parliamentary elections, in protest to what they called a flawed Presidential election, but ended up losing ground to both the movement and other parties in their hitherto known strongholds.
News of RA registration were received with mixed feelings by members of other political groups. Peter Walubiri of UPC says that RA is registering under a bad law. “ I hope they know the implications,†he says.
Hussein Kyanjo of Justice Forum says that RA has not yet communicated to the other groups about their intention to register. “ It would be regrettable for them to break ranks with us, but our assumption remains that they are not going to register now. In the meantime, I think the position of the G-7 on boycotting the registration process is still holding,†he says.
Dr. Paul Ssemogerere chooses to be cautious, “ RA is entitled to their right to decide. This cooperation does not take away their autonomy,†he says.
However, there is information that immediately after RA made their decision to register, DP parliamentary caucus is said to have held a crisis meeting that discussed the prospect of registering.
Ends