Parties name negotiating team
Jan 15, 2004
THE political party coalition yesterday named a 14-man team for preparatory talks with the Government
By Henry Mukasa
THE political party coalition yesterday named a 14-man team for preparatory talks with the Government. The group is dominated by lawyers. Party leaders were left out.
The team will be headed by Makerere University law academic Dr John Jean Barya of the The Free Movement (TFM). He will be deputised by another lawyer, Peter Walubiri of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC). Reform Agenda’s Reagan Okumu is secretary while a prominent lawyer, Joseph Balikuddembe, of the Democratic Party (DP) is the spokesman.
The full team is as follows; Dr Barya and Mwambutsya Ndebesa (TFM), Peter Walubiri and Henry Mayega (UPC), Reagan Okumu and James Musinguzi (RA), Joseph Balikuddembe and Wadri Kasiano (DP), John Ken Lukyamuzi and Hosea Ssewanyana (CP), Asuman Basarirwa and Fred Kasaija of the Justice Forum (JEEMA) and John Matovu and James Okanya of the National Democratic Forum (NDF).
The team was announced at a press conference at which party leaders appealed to Ugandans and the media not to ridicule the talks as “jokes.†The conference, attended by representatives of seven political groups, was held at the NDF headquarters on Katonga Road.
“The opposition believes in the dialogue through which inter alia a roadmap for multiparty democracy will be prepared,†NDF chairman Chapaa Karuhanga, who read a joint statement, said.
“We shall not speculate on the genuineness of the Government. We shall take their offer (of talks) at face value,†TFM’s Prof. Frederick Jjuuko said.
“Let’s take this opportunity as Ugandans to solve our problems amicably. Support it (dialogue). Give room for debate,†he said.
DP supremo Dr. Paul Ssemogerere said, “Look at the document we gave to the Government. Judge our sincerity. If you find anybody critical let him be specific. We are talking about ending war, militarisation of politics and a democratic transition. Judge us by what we have said; on issues,†he said.
Jjuuko and Okumu also laughed off suggestions that the groups were proceeding with talks without the mandate of their delegates conferences and that the result would be challenged. Okumu said every group’s office was in touch with its membership.
“The dialogue doesn’t contradict the principles of the political groups we represent,†Jjuuko said.
Their statement said Uganda’s economic development had been hampered by “senseless wars caused by bad governance that result from bad leadership.†They said dialogue could halt the trend.
They said the Government’s suppression of political party rallies was a violation of the 1995 constitution and complained that many Ugandans were arbitrarily arrested and incarcerated in ungazetted houses on tramped up charges by state agencies.
“It is hoped through this national dialogue many issues that have made Uganda fail to achieve peace, political stability and democratic governance will be looked into.
“We hope the Government is serious about these talks,†Chapaa said.
The conference came hours after the Government postponed talks scheduled to commence today, to next Monday at the Fairway Hotel.
THE political party coalition yesterday named a 14-man team for preparatory talks with the Government. The group is dominated by lawyers. Party leaders were left out.
The team will be headed by Makerere University law academic Dr John Jean Barya of the The Free Movement (TFM). He will be deputised by another lawyer, Peter Walubiri of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC). Reform Agenda’s Reagan Okumu is secretary while a prominent lawyer, Joseph Balikuddembe, of the Democratic Party (DP) is the spokesman.
The full team is as follows; Dr Barya and Mwambutsya Ndebesa (TFM), Peter Walubiri and Henry Mayega (UPC), Reagan Okumu and James Musinguzi (RA), Joseph Balikuddembe and Wadri Kasiano (DP), John Ken Lukyamuzi and Hosea Ssewanyana (CP), Asuman Basarirwa and Fred Kasaija of the Justice Forum (JEEMA) and John Matovu and James Okanya of the National Democratic Forum (NDF).
The team was announced at a press conference at which party leaders appealed to Ugandans and the media not to ridicule the talks as “jokes.†The conference, attended by representatives of seven political groups, was held at the NDF headquarters on Katonga Road.
“The opposition believes in the dialogue through which inter alia a roadmap for multiparty democracy will be prepared,†NDF chairman Chapaa Karuhanga, who read a joint statement, said.
“We shall not speculate on the genuineness of the Government. We shall take their offer (of talks) at face value,†TFM’s Prof. Frederick Jjuuko said.
“Let’s take this opportunity as Ugandans to solve our problems amicably. Support it (dialogue). Give room for debate,†he said.
DP supremo Dr. Paul Ssemogerere said, “Look at the document we gave to the Government. Judge our sincerity. If you find anybody critical let him be specific. We are talking about ending war, militarisation of politics and a democratic transition. Judge us by what we have said; on issues,†he said.
Jjuuko and Okumu also laughed off suggestions that the groups were proceeding with talks without the mandate of their delegates conferences and that the result would be challenged. Okumu said every group’s office was in touch with its membership.
“The dialogue doesn’t contradict the principles of the political groups we represent,†Jjuuko said.
Their statement said Uganda’s economic development had been hampered by “senseless wars caused by bad governance that result from bad leadership.†They said dialogue could halt the trend.
They said the Government’s suppression of political party rallies was a violation of the 1995 constitution and complained that many Ugandans were arbitrarily arrested and incarcerated in ungazetted houses on tramped up charges by state agencies.
“It is hoped through this national dialogue many issues that have made Uganda fail to achieve peace, political stability and democratic governance will be looked into.
“We hope the Government is serious about these talks,†Chapaa said.
The conference came hours after the Government postponed talks scheduled to commence today, to next Monday at the Fairway Hotel.