RA targets grassroots
Apr 19, 2004
THE Reform Agenda (RA) will open offices at sub-county level by June 15 this year before it registers as a political party
By Henry Mukasaand Geresom Musamali
THE Reform Agenda (RA) will open offices at sub-county level by June 15 this year before it registers as a political party.
“All districts should set up RA structures at district, constituency and sub-county levels and make returns to the headquarters before 15th June, 2004,†read Resolution No. 7 of RA national district consultative meeting held at Christ the King Cathedral at the weekend in Kampala.
Members resolved to set up a special committee to plan, coordinate and organise for the repatriation of RA leader Dr. Col. (Rtd) Kizza Besigye and all political exiles before the RA elections scheduled for July.
Besigye, who has been in exile since August 2001 following the presidential polls, will not be elected in absentia and will, after August, be ineligible for election as a party leader at any level.
RA also resolved to work with partners or alone, to have the ‘obnoxious’ Police Act and other laws repealed.
RA finance secretary James Musinguzi said Besigye was interested in participating in the 2006 elections but refuted recent media reports that RA advocated violence.
“What Besigye meant was that if the situation is still the same as it was in 2001, then there is no reason to risk our people’s lives. He said it’s up to us on the ground to judge the situation and decide accordingly,†he said.
“He called for a struggle “to enable our people to regain their freedom,†said RA activist and Rukiga MP Jack Sabiiti.
Sabiiti said he was at pains whenever he recalled the liberation war.
“Imagine engaging the population in war and then you don’t do what you promised. Ten years later we are saying, why did we go to fight?†he asked.
Sabiiti predicted probable change, but after concerted effort.
“All of us must move together and engage the enemy at the moment. The enemy is the Movement. It has impoverished people, created a police state and individualised leadership. The current president is the army, judiciary, executive... everything,†he said.
Asked if he had the military backing, Sabiiti said, “You have the capacity to take over government. You should be prepared to risk and sacrifice. Even if one falls, others should continue matching,†he said.
THE Reform Agenda (RA) will open offices at sub-county level by June 15 this year before it registers as a political party.
“All districts should set up RA structures at district, constituency and sub-county levels and make returns to the headquarters before 15th June, 2004,†read Resolution No. 7 of RA national district consultative meeting held at Christ the King Cathedral at the weekend in Kampala.
Members resolved to set up a special committee to plan, coordinate and organise for the repatriation of RA leader Dr. Col. (Rtd) Kizza Besigye and all political exiles before the RA elections scheduled for July.
Besigye, who has been in exile since August 2001 following the presidential polls, will not be elected in absentia and will, after August, be ineligible for election as a party leader at any level.
RA also resolved to work with partners or alone, to have the ‘obnoxious’ Police Act and other laws repealed.
RA finance secretary James Musinguzi said Besigye was interested in participating in the 2006 elections but refuted recent media reports that RA advocated violence.
“What Besigye meant was that if the situation is still the same as it was in 2001, then there is no reason to risk our people’s lives. He said it’s up to us on the ground to judge the situation and decide accordingly,†he said.
“He called for a struggle “to enable our people to regain their freedom,†said RA activist and Rukiga MP Jack Sabiiti.
Sabiiti said he was at pains whenever he recalled the liberation war.
“Imagine engaging the population in war and then you don’t do what you promised. Ten years later we are saying, why did we go to fight?†he asked.
Sabiiti predicted probable change, but after concerted effort.
“All of us must move together and engage the enemy at the moment. The enemy is the Movement. It has impoverished people, created a police state and individualised leadership. The current president is the army, judiciary, executive... everything,†he said.
Asked if he had the military backing, Sabiiti said, “You have the capacity to take over government. You should be prepared to risk and sacrifice. Even if one falls, others should continue matching,†he said.