Obote behind UPC poll ‘rigging’

Sep 22, 2005

EXILED Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) president Milton Obote is masterminding the election of representatives to the party’s delegates’ conference, stalwart Omara Atubo has charged.

By Apollo Mubiru

EXILED Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) president Milton Obote is masterminding the election of representatives to the party’s delegates’ conference, stalwart Omara Atubo has charged.

“It is a war of leadership. The clique of the present Constitutional Steering Commission (CSC) is masterminding all this on behalf of Obote. I think Obote appointed them to rig elections,” Atubo said.

“I cannot see Obote leaving UPC leadership without leaving behind his successor. That is why they are rigging the primaries because if you rig the primaries, you also rig the delegates’ conference and you will have rigged the party leadership automatically,” Atubo told a press conference at Parliament yesterday.

Atubo the Otuke MP, was elected the Ating parish delegate on Saturday. But CSC chief Badru Wegulo said on Wednesday UPC did not recognise the election because Atubo arrived late and that somebody that had been elected stood down for him.

Another party diehard, Lira Municipality MP Cecilia Ogwal, was also locked out of the primaries elections in her Bazzar parish. Ogwal has vowed not to let the “clique” masterminding the rigging to kick her out of UPC.

Atubo displayed “photographic evidence” to counter claims by Wegulo that he was favoured at the election.

Atubo had a group photograph of the 27 parish executive members with him, together with the election supervisor/presiding officer, David Amot, who had just announced the results. He said he was one of the three elders elected on the executive to be nominated unopposed.

On claims that Lango MPs did not go for the primaries, wanted to ride on their popularity and to be elected in absentia unopposed, Atubo said that was shallow thinking.

“Wegulo was not very sharp and intelligent when he said I wanted to be elected unopposed. How could I do such a stupid thing? The reason why they are blocking us is simply because they know that when we (MPs) come we shall not be stooges to anybody and fear that we may vie for the party presidency,” Atubo said.

He said if UPC leadership continued to treat him unfairly, he would contest independently. He said party supporters in Lira were very bitter with the developments.

“With this kind of behaviour, UPC is discrediting itself. Museveni can start writing his victory speech and the Movement can proceed to organise their victory celebrations,” Atubo said.

Atubo said, “Can you imagine me being defeated in the party elections in a village of my ancestors? If the Wegulos have other reasons for not having me in the delegates’ conference, they should say it other than telling lies that I came late. I will definitely attend the delegates’ conference with my people.”

Atubo said nobody at Uganda House had the authority to nullify an election that was carried out under set guidelines. He said if the UPC chiefs were convinced that there was an anomaly, the parish polls should be nullified.


(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});