Can PAFO make a strong party?

By Hamis Kaheru and Joyce Namutebi

THE final goal is now clear. The Parliamentary Advocacy Forum (PAFO) is moving to form a new political party.

“I can’t talk for PAFO but the possibility is there,” says Abdul Katuntu (Bugweri), secretary for legal affairs.

“It’s most likely,” says Jack Sabiiti (Rukiga), the treasurer.

“PAFO will definitely be a party. We have a responsibility to this country. We can’t keep waiting to be beaten,” says Salaamu Musumba, PAFO spokesperson. “We want to deal with equals. We want NRM to know that we are on the same level,” she says.

Katuntu says there are favourable conditions for new parties in the country: “These include lack of good governance, lack of available alternative leadership and inherent weaknesses within existing political organisations. These are obtaining in the country.”

He argues that PAFO has the strength to overtake old parties. “New groups come up because they think they are better in terms of human resource, patriotism and foresightedness. PAFO has all these,” he says.

But Ofwono Opondo, the Movement director for information, sees no future for PAFO: “Where is PAFO’s strength? PAFO is buttressed by disgruntled members from DP and UPC.”

PAFO chairman, Augustine Ruzindana (Ruhama), Sabiiti, Guma Gumisiriza (Ibanda North) John Kazoora (Kashari) and others are from the Movement and, according to Guma, belong to the NRM.

Katuntu, Ben Wacha (Oyam North), Okullo-Epak (Oyam South), Betty Amongi (Apac) and others are UPC members while Issa Kikungwe (Kyadondo South), Patrick Musisi (Busiro South), Zachary Olum (Nwoya) and others are from DP.

Amongi says it is difficult for PAFO to become a party because most members want to remain in their old parties. She says she would not leave UPC for PAFO.

Kikungwe says while it would be a good idea to some people for PAFO to become a political party, it would be a disaster to others like him. “The day it becomes a party is the day it would cease to exist,” he says.

Amongi says those ready to abandon their old parties to form a party are too few.

Ofwono argues that it would be “political suicide” for most PAFO members to denounce their old parties.

“Can Ruzindana defeat NRM in Ntungamo? If he stood on another ticket, I don’t think he would come back to parliament. Same thing applies to Guma. If Salaamu stood on PAFO ticket, I don’t think she would get easy sailing in Busoga either,” Ofwono says.

“Even Katuntu came to parliament on a Movement ticket and it was (deputy speaker of parliament Rebecca) Kadaga and the former VP (Dr Specioza Kazibwe) who campaigned for him, together with Col. Elly Kayanja,” says.

Other PAFO members, Ofwono says, who rode on the Movement back to get to parliament include Sabiiti, Kazoora and Guma.

“It was Lt Gen. Salim Saleh who campaigned for Sabiiti. Kazoora and Guma were funded by the Movement. We can even produce photocopies of cheques and vouchers issued to them if they contest the funding,” he says.

Katuntu says they are ready to sacrifice their parliamentary ambitions. “We don’t have to be selfish. I don’t like this individualism. If you take a decision you weigh personal ambitions against nationalist ambitions. Do you take your personal ambitions ahead of national ambitions?”

Katuntu says, “Organisations always start from scratch. Look at the present composition of the Movement. It was created by people who were in UPM and most of the people who started UPM had been members of UPC.”

UPM founders who left UPC include Ruhakana Rugunda, Sabiiti, Amama Mbabazi, Amanya Mushega, Eriya Kategaya, Mathew Rukaikire and Bidandi Ssali.

Katuntu argues that UPM founders had seen weaknesses in DP and UPC and realised that the only way forward was to look for a ‘third force’.

“The third force comes when you have people who are dissastified with what is going on in their old parties,” he says. Thus, he perceives PAFO as a third force.

For Guma, what matters is not PAFO’s strength but what it stands for: “Did UPM have strength in 1980? They came, explained to people what they stood for but people could not understand. But they (UPM) made a point.”

But Ofwono says PAFO is not comparable to UPM.

“UPM represented a new and alternative credible force but where is PAFO drawing the line. Beyond third term, they are not offering alternatives on other issues like security, defence, human rights or corruption,” he says.

“They are only saying, “we don’t want Museveni to come back.” If Museveni one day says he is not seeking another term, I don’t think PAFO would stand.”

Musumba says PAFO already has grassroot support.

“The best strength is our membership. Each of us has a following and the minimum is at least half a constituency. So, added together, we have a starting point,” she says.

This means that PAFO can boast of over 6.2 million voters because each of 214 constituencies is supposed to have at least 70,000 voters.

But Ofwono says PAFO members on their own lack followers in their constituencies.

“They got elected because they said they were supporting President Museveni. None of them came to parliament on their own popularity. That is why all of them were scrambling to be on our task force. But in 1980, Museveni stood on his own.”

He adds that 50% of MPs in the sixth parliament lost the 2001 election and that the same number will lose in 2006. “So where is their support or popularity?” he asks.

Katuntu says PAFO will rob NRM of members. “The Movement has become weak over the years. During the 1994 CA Elections, the West was 100% Movement but what happened in 1996 and 2001 elections, and then today? 40% of the leaders have deserted its leadership,” he says.

He argues that the Movement has lost capacity to recruit new members.

“There is no high profile person who can join the Movement today. It can only lose members. Look at Kategaya. Ruzindana was not part of the founders. PAFO has continued recruiting and this is one of its achievements,” he says.

What about Maria Mutagamba, Sarah Nkonge and Francis Runumi who have joined the Movement?

“Nkonge is a small fly. Those small people were bought with jobs,” Katuntu says.

Ofwono argues the departure of Kategaya or Ruzindana would not dent the Movement.

“Kategaya’s popularity is because he was holding the tail of President Museveni’s coat. Let Kategaya stand in Rwampara and we see whether he can win. he won because (his would-be opponent) Francis Butagira was given a job (as ambassador). Even Ruzindana didn’t defeat Brig. Kamwesiga (RIP) in Ruhama,” he says.

Katuntu says the Movement is looked at as mainly for southerners and westerners: “Out of 21 cabinet ministers only five are from the north and east. Then see how many out of 21 are from Ankole.”

But at first, PAFO was also
viewed a flag bearer for multi-partyists and northerners, forcing it to replace Emmanuel Dombo with Ruzindana.

Amongi says it was deemed vital to have a chairman from the West who was close to President Museveni and a strong Movementist to appeal to all regions and groups.

But Katuntu disagrees: “Bernadette Bigirwa (RIP), Kazoora, Captain Byaruhanga and Guma are from the West.”

“We only looked at Ruzindana’s credentials as a senior citizen, elder, well respected and educated.”

May the best win in 2006.