DP Leadership Changes In June
Apr 25, 2004
The Democratic Party (DP) leadership is expected to change on June 10, during the National Council meeting to be convened in Kampala, party officials said yesterday.
By Felix Osike
The Democratic Party (DP) leadership is expected to change on June 10, during the National Council meeting to be convened in Kampala, party officials said yesterday.
Pressure is also mounting on the DP leaders to register in order to rejuvenate the party ahead of the 2006 general elections.
The DP Parliamentary Movement Caucus, led by Terego MP Kassiano Wadri, met on Saturday with the party president Dr. Paul Ssemogerere and some members of his executive and agreed on a number of issues.
“We talked about issues like party rejuvenation, leadership renewal and registration which will be put to the National Council set for June 10, †the caucus spokesman MP Issa Kikungwe said yesterday.
The National Council comprises 14 DP Members of Parliament, 56 district chairpersons and 36 members of the executive.
Kikungwe said the DP national chairman, Mzee Boniface Byanyima, will on May 8 chair a reconciliatory meeting, intended to unite Ssemogerere with the leader of the breakaway faction, Francis Bwengye, and his executive.
Sources said the council would convince Ssemogerere and Bwengye to step down and pave way for a new breed of leaders to herald the party to victory in the 2006 general elections.
The party is divided along members loyal to Ssemogerere and Bwengye.
Ssemogerere, who has vied for the national presidency twice, has led the party since its first leader Ben Kiwanuka was murdered in 1972.
Ssemogerere says his succession must be in accordance with the party constitution, which demands the holding of the delegates conference. The last one was held in 1984.
Names being floated for Ssemogerere’s possible replacement include Kampala Mayor Ssebaana Kizito, US-based Prof. James Otto, former National Agricultural Research Organisation chief Prof. Joseph Mukiibi, Wadri, MPs Patrick Musisi, Ssebuliba Mutumba and Ogenga Latigo.
Emmanuel Wamala Kalule, a banker, has also expressed his interest in the seat. Some DP members want an amendment to the party constitution so that the party president is not necessarily the presidential candidate.
The Uganda People’s Congress said recently that they would register once some restrictive sections of the Political Parties and Organisations Act are expunged.
Other sources say the rush to register is a response to the recent decision by the Reform Agenda (RA) of self-exiled Col. Rtd Dr. Kiiza Besigye to register. DP activists fear their members may cross to the Reform Agenda and deny them the vital support in the 2006 polls.
Ends
The Democratic Party (DP) leadership is expected to change on June 10, during the National Council meeting to be convened in Kampala, party officials said yesterday.
Pressure is also mounting on the DP leaders to register in order to rejuvenate the party ahead of the 2006 general elections.
The DP Parliamentary Movement Caucus, led by Terego MP Kassiano Wadri, met on Saturday with the party president Dr. Paul Ssemogerere and some members of his executive and agreed on a number of issues.
“We talked about issues like party rejuvenation, leadership renewal and registration which will be put to the National Council set for June 10, †the caucus spokesman MP Issa Kikungwe said yesterday.
The National Council comprises 14 DP Members of Parliament, 56 district chairpersons and 36 members of the executive.
Kikungwe said the DP national chairman, Mzee Boniface Byanyima, will on May 8 chair a reconciliatory meeting, intended to unite Ssemogerere with the leader of the breakaway faction, Francis Bwengye, and his executive.
Sources said the council would convince Ssemogerere and Bwengye to step down and pave way for a new breed of leaders to herald the party to victory in the 2006 general elections.
The party is divided along members loyal to Ssemogerere and Bwengye.
Ssemogerere, who has vied for the national presidency twice, has led the party since its first leader Ben Kiwanuka was murdered in 1972.
Ssemogerere says his succession must be in accordance with the party constitution, which demands the holding of the delegates conference. The last one was held in 1984.
Names being floated for Ssemogerere’s possible replacement include Kampala Mayor Ssebaana Kizito, US-based Prof. James Otto, former National Agricultural Research Organisation chief Prof. Joseph Mukiibi, Wadri, MPs Patrick Musisi, Ssebuliba Mutumba and Ogenga Latigo.
Emmanuel Wamala Kalule, a banker, has also expressed his interest in the seat. Some DP members want an amendment to the party constitution so that the party president is not necessarily the presidential candidate.
The Uganda People’s Congress said recently that they would register once some restrictive sections of the Political Parties and Organisations Act are expunged.
Other sources say the rush to register is a response to the recent decision by the Reform Agenda (RA) of self-exiled Col. Rtd Dr. Kiiza Besigye to register. DP activists fear their members may cross to the Reform Agenda and deny them the vital support in the 2006 polls.
Ends