Elections calendar is out, so Ugandans should get ready
Sep 29, 2005
NOW that the National Resistance Movement (NRM), and other political groups contending for power have published their calendar leading to next year’s general elections, Ugandans must remain vigilant. They should also ensure that internal rules and procedures are fair, transparent and obeyed by par
NOW that the National Resistance Movement (NRM), and other political groups contending for power have published their calendar leading to next year’s general elections, Ugandans must remain vigilant. They should also ensure that internal rules and procedures are fair, transparent and obeyed by party interim leaders.
NRM members in particular ought to know that as the vanguard and mass organisation leading the country they have an obligation to set good examples in theory and practice for others to emulate. And as its members control parliament and legislative agenda, they ought to be seen to be fair across the board although unfortunately, the draconian provision requiring public servants to resign 90 days before nominations was allowed to pass and we should live with it.
Unlike UPC, DP, FDC and marginal CP that make noise in urban centres for media attention, the NRM leaders must prove that they are above suspicion of internal and external electoral manipulation and disapprove the self-acclaimed “experienced†politician Bidandi Ssali, in the allegations he has been making since resigning from leadership as second vice-chairperson.
Men like UPC’s Hajji Badru Wegulo, and Peter Walubiri who are defending bad and lost causes should not be allowed to claim that internal party matters be left entirely to them, when they are seeking state power to control citizens and national resources. In fact, Wegulo must be reminded that the NRM, UPC, DP and FDC party constitutions must conform to the national constitution, and hence rigging out MPs Cecilia Ogwal, Betty Among, and castigating others ought to be checked, if necessary through courts of law.
It is now up to UPC members to ensure that these controversies are sorted out before the delegates conference, or they must be prepared to throw out internal political charlatans, Wegulo, Walubiri, Okello Okello, Joseph Ochieno and Jimmy Akena. However, many pundits know that rigging in UPC is an established tradition, but are still apparently surprised, that the FDC that has been riding a high horse, is sliding down the same path, to skip internal election, in preference to endorsing ‘founding’ leaders to automatic leadership positions.
And now instead of holding internal elections, FDC is seeking to divert public attention by instigating civil disobedience against government. We have now obtained a document signed by the FDC envoy, and chairperson for political and electoral reforms committee Beti Kamya planning, instigating and calling for “mass action†against the government under the auspices of the so-called G-6.
The activities Kamya outlined include instigating strikes among the business community and students in institutions of higher learning, and mobilising civil society, and the diplomatic community in Uganda to support their actions. FDC will in addition purportedly prepare alternative “legislation†for parliament instead of considering the one from government. This one in particular is laughable. how can it be achieved when Kamya knows that the NRM she is fighting has an overwhelming majority in parliament who cannot listen to FDC political machinations? It is a wishful thinking, to say the least!
As the FDC delegates conference draws nearer, the scramble for positions is on but nobody wants to take chances by going to the grassroots for elections.
And there are warning signs too, that the false political pedestal, which the opposition has been using to cast doom and gain sympathies is fast fading by the positive events of the past few weeks.
As will be recalled, they had spread false propaganda that the Movement leadership was fooling the world about its determination to return to multipartysm. Then in March, they tried but failed to obstruct the referendum bill, and constitutional amendments.
Now FDC leader, Dr. Kiiza Besigye who fled Uganda on his own volition alleging state harassment, has been proved wrong, when issued with another Uganda passport, yet he has been sounding war drums in the false belief that South Africa was too far to get at him.
Equally, the approval by the G-8 summit, and IMF board of directors for another round of debt cancellation for multilateral debts where Uganda is among the first 18 countries is a boost to our credibility, contrary to what Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu has been alleging.
The request and acceptance of Uganda troops and police to serve in the African Union (AU), and UN peace missions in war-torn Liberia, and Sudan’s Darfur region is yet another milestone that puts opposition claims to shame. And when Museveni travelled to the US for the UN general assembly and held discussions with high profile officials, it was to the chagrin of the FDC whose Anne Mugisha sent an e-mail purportedly to ask president George Bush not to have a photo opportunity with Museveni. Instead, Museveni had useful discussions and of course photo opportunities with Bush Sr, Bush Jr, the Executive director of USAID, and the new World Bank president Wolfwiz.
Ends
NRM members in particular ought to know that as the vanguard and mass organisation leading the country they have an obligation to set good examples in theory and practice for others to emulate. And as its members control parliament and legislative agenda, they ought to be seen to be fair across the board although unfortunately, the draconian provision requiring public servants to resign 90 days before nominations was allowed to pass and we should live with it.
Unlike UPC, DP, FDC and marginal CP that make noise in urban centres for media attention, the NRM leaders must prove that they are above suspicion of internal and external electoral manipulation and disapprove the self-acclaimed “experienced†politician Bidandi Ssali, in the allegations he has been making since resigning from leadership as second vice-chairperson.
Men like UPC’s Hajji Badru Wegulo, and Peter Walubiri who are defending bad and lost causes should not be allowed to claim that internal party matters be left entirely to them, when they are seeking state power to control citizens and national resources. In fact, Wegulo must be reminded that the NRM, UPC, DP and FDC party constitutions must conform to the national constitution, and hence rigging out MPs Cecilia Ogwal, Betty Among, and castigating others ought to be checked, if necessary through courts of law.
It is now up to UPC members to ensure that these controversies are sorted out before the delegates conference, or they must be prepared to throw out internal political charlatans, Wegulo, Walubiri, Okello Okello, Joseph Ochieno and Jimmy Akena. However, many pundits know that rigging in UPC is an established tradition, but are still apparently surprised, that the FDC that has been riding a high horse, is sliding down the same path, to skip internal election, in preference to endorsing ‘founding’ leaders to automatic leadership positions.
And now instead of holding internal elections, FDC is seeking to divert public attention by instigating civil disobedience against government. We have now obtained a document signed by the FDC envoy, and chairperson for political and electoral reforms committee Beti Kamya planning, instigating and calling for “mass action†against the government under the auspices of the so-called G-6.
The activities Kamya outlined include instigating strikes among the business community and students in institutions of higher learning, and mobilising civil society, and the diplomatic community in Uganda to support their actions. FDC will in addition purportedly prepare alternative “legislation†for parliament instead of considering the one from government. This one in particular is laughable. how can it be achieved when Kamya knows that the NRM she is fighting has an overwhelming majority in parliament who cannot listen to FDC political machinations? It is a wishful thinking, to say the least!
As the FDC delegates conference draws nearer, the scramble for positions is on but nobody wants to take chances by going to the grassroots for elections.
And there are warning signs too, that the false political pedestal, which the opposition has been using to cast doom and gain sympathies is fast fading by the positive events of the past few weeks.
As will be recalled, they had spread false propaganda that the Movement leadership was fooling the world about its determination to return to multipartysm. Then in March, they tried but failed to obstruct the referendum bill, and constitutional amendments.
Now FDC leader, Dr. Kiiza Besigye who fled Uganda on his own volition alleging state harassment, has been proved wrong, when issued with another Uganda passport, yet he has been sounding war drums in the false belief that South Africa was too far to get at him.
Equally, the approval by the G-8 summit, and IMF board of directors for another round of debt cancellation for multilateral debts where Uganda is among the first 18 countries is a boost to our credibility, contrary to what Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu has been alleging.
The request and acceptance of Uganda troops and police to serve in the African Union (AU), and UN peace missions in war-torn Liberia, and Sudan’s Darfur region is yet another milestone that puts opposition claims to shame. And when Museveni travelled to the US for the UN general assembly and held discussions with high profile officials, it was to the chagrin of the FDC whose Anne Mugisha sent an e-mail purportedly to ask president George Bush not to have a photo opportunity with Museveni. Instead, Museveni had useful discussions and of course photo opportunities with Bush Sr, Bush Jr, the Executive director of USAID, and the new World Bank president Wolfwiz.
Ends