Opposition parties in a circus
Apr 08, 2004
OPINION<br><br>UGANDA’S opposition politics is a circus. It was interesting watching old men Sam Njuba (Reform Agenda), and Paul Ssemogerere (DP) jointly addressing the press with former UPC younthwingers Jean Barya and Peter Walubiri on the purported “walk-out,†from talks with government.
OPINION
UGANDA’S opposition politics is a circus. It was interesting watching old men Sam Njuba (Reform Agenda), and Paul Ssemogerere (DP) jointly addressing the press with former UPC younthwingers Jean Barya and Peter Walubiri on the purported “walk-out,†from talks with government.
“Purported,†because all along these factions under the so-called Group of Seven (G7) had never been in the “talks,†but playing hide and seek games hoping to gain public sympathy.
One cannot “walk-out,†when he has not been inside in the first place and therefore their claim is, but a political hoax, and saber-rattling.
From the time Government initiated consultations with political forces, the G7, led by Dr Jean Barya, sought a platform to launch a dramatic political posture.
Fortunately, the NPC, Crispus Kiyonga has succeeded in denying the G7 such a national platform.
Consultations with the other groups have continued smoothly and with remarkable results.
Propelled by the court rulings on Ssemogerere’s constitutional petition, the G7 had claimed that there was a “political crisis,†in Uganda, but, so far, none is evident.
They spread false propaganda countrywide hoping to blackmail government into bringing them into a “government of national unity,†which they demanded.
Fortunately, at some other point, Chief Justice Benjamin Odoki dispelled the rumours about a constitutional crisis, and since then the absurd statements from the opposition fizzled!
The G7 need to be reminded that although they claim to be the only “visible and credible,†group to consult with, practical politics is run differently and in strange ways.
See, in 1770 Sir William Pitt spoke before the British House of Lords and said: “There is something behind the throne greater than the king himself,†giving birth to the phrase “power behind the throne.â€
While G7 and PAFO may claim superiority above the other political forces, they would be amazed if they got to know the truth and how national and state politics is played!
Uganda’s pre-independence politics show that “walk-outs,†like “boycotts,†never yield positive and durable results, because as you “boycott,†others continue with the process.
During the independence election in 1961, there was a group in Mengo called Kabaka Yekka (King only), which boycotted those elections claiming that its political territory was being encroached upon by a Muganda-led DP, Ben Kiwanuka.
KY did not only stay out of the elections but made the grave and opportunistic alliance with Milton Obote’s UPC, which it has lived to regret. That alliance similar to the current one being played in the G7 created, nurtured and consolidated the first fascist regime under UPC and Obote.
This fascism was nurtured through the opposed and later boycotted 1964 referendum on the lost counties of Bugangaizi and Buyaga. It is quite clear that Ssekabaka Sir Edward Mutesa must be turning in his grave at Kasubi tombs.
Kiwanuka who later became Chief Justice under Idi Amin was dragged from his chambers in Kampala never to be seen again either alive or dead since 1972. Those who ride the tiger must be prepared for its claws!
Another lesson can be learnt from the Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM), the precursor of the present Movement, as a third force to UPC and DP after the fall of Amin.
Although it was clear
that UPC would rig
and win elections, UPM participated in order
to expose UPC machinations and DP’s incompetence as a viable counter weight to political
mischief.
Today, both UPC and DP are generally discredited groups, whose leaders lack new initiatives, let alone willingness to relinquish power democratically.
The ineffectual boycott of Movement politics by Cecilia Ogwal’s UPC faction between 1986 and 1994 ought to teach the current opposition high priests some lessons.
Ogwal, Ben Wacha, Patrick Mwondha, Okullu Epak, George Masika, Darlington Sakwa and others learnt much later that they were the losers. They returned to politics in 1994 during CA elections and became relevant.
Others like James Rwanyarare, John Luwuliza Kirunda, Badru Wegulo, Dr Patrick Rubaihayo and Enoch Kashunju are waiting for Obote’s third coming and simply expired.
Earlier on, Wasswa Ziritwaula walked out of NRC over NRM extension in 1990 and is quietly gnashing his teeth.
The multipartysts under the then National Caucus for Democracy (NCD) of Dan Nabudere walked out of CA and refused to sign the 1995 constitution but are today the same ones running to courts alleging that it is under threat by the Movement!
In the most recent scenario, when Ssemogerere, John Kawanga, Damiano Lubega, and Sebaana Kizito lost the 1996 presidential bid, they went into oblivion.
While Sebaana rose on Nasser Ssebaggala’s ruin when he got jailed in the US for currency fraud, by the time Lubega returned in 2001, Ken Lukyamuzi had dug in, in Lubaga South!
And Uganda is not alone in this scenario. In Britain, Robin Cook (foreign) and Clare Short (International Development) resigned from Tony Blair’s cabinet over Iraq but have gone silent.
Movement politics is much like a flowing river, which collects all material along its course and
filters, but nevertheless gathers speed as it races down the sea!
The Movement will continue talking to every group that is willing and
fight or ignore the obstructionists.
UGANDA’S opposition politics is a circus. It was interesting watching old men Sam Njuba (Reform Agenda), and Paul Ssemogerere (DP) jointly addressing the press with former UPC younthwingers Jean Barya and Peter Walubiri on the purported “walk-out,†from talks with government.
“Purported,†because all along these factions under the so-called Group of Seven (G7) had never been in the “talks,†but playing hide and seek games hoping to gain public sympathy.
One cannot “walk-out,†when he has not been inside in the first place and therefore their claim is, but a political hoax, and saber-rattling.
From the time Government initiated consultations with political forces, the G7, led by Dr Jean Barya, sought a platform to launch a dramatic political posture.
Fortunately, the NPC, Crispus Kiyonga has succeeded in denying the G7 such a national platform.
Consultations with the other groups have continued smoothly and with remarkable results.
Propelled by the court rulings on Ssemogerere’s constitutional petition, the G7 had claimed that there was a “political crisis,†in Uganda, but, so far, none is evident.
They spread false propaganda countrywide hoping to blackmail government into bringing them into a “government of national unity,†which they demanded.
Fortunately, at some other point, Chief Justice Benjamin Odoki dispelled the rumours about a constitutional crisis, and since then the absurd statements from the opposition fizzled!
The G7 need to be reminded that although they claim to be the only “visible and credible,†group to consult with, practical politics is run differently and in strange ways.
See, in 1770 Sir William Pitt spoke before the British House of Lords and said: “There is something behind the throne greater than the king himself,†giving birth to the phrase “power behind the throne.â€
While G7 and PAFO may claim superiority above the other political forces, they would be amazed if they got to know the truth and how national and state politics is played!
Uganda’s pre-independence politics show that “walk-outs,†like “boycotts,†never yield positive and durable results, because as you “boycott,†others continue with the process.
During the independence election in 1961, there was a group in Mengo called Kabaka Yekka (King only), which boycotted those elections claiming that its political territory was being encroached upon by a Muganda-led DP, Ben Kiwanuka.
KY did not only stay out of the elections but made the grave and opportunistic alliance with Milton Obote’s UPC, which it has lived to regret. That alliance similar to the current one being played in the G7 created, nurtured and consolidated the first fascist regime under UPC and Obote.
This fascism was nurtured through the opposed and later boycotted 1964 referendum on the lost counties of Bugangaizi and Buyaga. It is quite clear that Ssekabaka Sir Edward Mutesa must be turning in his grave at Kasubi tombs.
Kiwanuka who later became Chief Justice under Idi Amin was dragged from his chambers in Kampala never to be seen again either alive or dead since 1972. Those who ride the tiger must be prepared for its claws!
Another lesson can be learnt from the Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM), the precursor of the present Movement, as a third force to UPC and DP after the fall of Amin.
Although it was clear
that UPC would rig
and win elections, UPM participated in order
to expose UPC machinations and DP’s incompetence as a viable counter weight to political
mischief.
Today, both UPC and DP are generally discredited groups, whose leaders lack new initiatives, let alone willingness to relinquish power democratically.
The ineffectual boycott of Movement politics by Cecilia Ogwal’s UPC faction between 1986 and 1994 ought to teach the current opposition high priests some lessons.
Ogwal, Ben Wacha, Patrick Mwondha, Okullu Epak, George Masika, Darlington Sakwa and others learnt much later that they were the losers. They returned to politics in 1994 during CA elections and became relevant.
Others like James Rwanyarare, John Luwuliza Kirunda, Badru Wegulo, Dr Patrick Rubaihayo and Enoch Kashunju are waiting for Obote’s third coming and simply expired.
Earlier on, Wasswa Ziritwaula walked out of NRC over NRM extension in 1990 and is quietly gnashing his teeth.
The multipartysts under the then National Caucus for Democracy (NCD) of Dan Nabudere walked out of CA and refused to sign the 1995 constitution but are today the same ones running to courts alleging that it is under threat by the Movement!
In the most recent scenario, when Ssemogerere, John Kawanga, Damiano Lubega, and Sebaana Kizito lost the 1996 presidential bid, they went into oblivion.
While Sebaana rose on Nasser Ssebaggala’s ruin when he got jailed in the US for currency fraud, by the time Lubega returned in 2001, Ken Lukyamuzi had dug in, in Lubaga South!
And Uganda is not alone in this scenario. In Britain, Robin Cook (foreign) and Clare Short (International Development) resigned from Tony Blair’s cabinet over Iraq but have gone silent.
Movement politics is much like a flowing river, which collects all material along its course and
filters, but nevertheless gathers speed as it races down the sea!
The Movement will continue talking to every group that is willing and
fight or ignore the obstructionists.