Parties must have internal democracy

Oct 30, 2005

FORUM for Democratic Change (FDC) has completed its first ever Delegates’ Conference, but not without problems. Beti Kamya, a founder member, came out crying foul that she was rigged out of elections for national party leaders.

FORUM for Democratic Change (FDC) has completed its first ever Delegates’ Conference, but not without problems. Beti Kamya, a founder member, came out crying foul that she was rigged out of elections for national party leaders.

Earlier, FDC founders amended the constitution to make themselves automatic members of the delegates’ conference. This led to complaints of internal rigging.

Such complaints are not unique to FDC. Prominent leaders in Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) like Cecilia Ogwal and Omara Atubo raised similar complaints during their party’s grassroot elections. Ogwal alleged that the party president had ensured that she was not elected to party structures in her constituency.

The Democratic Party (DP) has also had leadership problems for a long time. At one time two factions of DP were claiming authority and pointing accusing fingers at each other all the time. This weakened the party further.

Although DP President General Paul Semogerere has said he will not offer himself for election when the party holds its delegates conference, he seems unwilling to let go soon. Even when he leaves, Semogerere is suspected of having intentions of anointing successors to maintain influence.

The Conservative Party (CP) currently has two ‘presidents’ namely, Mayanja Nkangi and Nsubuga Nsambu. Only the party membership can say who the rightful president is.

These wrangles within various parties show that internal democracy is still elusive. The National Resistance Movement (NRM), which has not had serious problems in the top leadership, has a chance to set the example when it holds its delegates’ conference next month.

The other parties which are also yet to hold delegates’ conferences but have had problems before also have a chance to show that internal rigging is no more. Internal democracy within parties is very important if we are to talk of democracy at the wider national level.

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