Kolker hails Uganda on parties
Sep 19, 2005
OUTGOING US ambassador Jimmy Kolker has congratulated Ugandans upon adopting multipartyism.
By Paul Kiwuuwa
OUTGOING US ambassador Jimmy Kolker has congratulated Ugandans upon adopting multipartyism.
However, he warned multipartyists against sectarianism.
Kolker (right) was bidding farewell to the Speaker of Parliament, Edward Ssekandi, at Parliament, yesterday.
“The kind of multiparty system revived in Uganda should not be based on ethnicity and religious beliefs,†Kolker said.
“Multiypartyism opens the way for others to participate and bring new ideas to politics,†he said.
He said the US government would continue giving Uganda development support.
He hailed Ssekandi for heading the 7th Parliament successfully.
“I have appreciated the way the legislators on both the Government and the opposition side have been debating crucial issues. It has not been simple,†Kolker said.
Ssekandi said he doubted whether Ugandans could find a difference between the parties and the personalities running them.
“My only worry is that since Uganda had embraced the Movement system for 19 years, they may have not understood multiparty politics well, because they equate the parties with the people,†Ssekandi said.
He thanked the US for equipping the Parliamentary Library with up-to-date information technology materials.
Ends
OUTGOING US ambassador Jimmy Kolker has congratulated Ugandans upon adopting multipartyism.
However, he warned multipartyists against sectarianism.
Kolker (right) was bidding farewell to the Speaker of Parliament, Edward Ssekandi, at Parliament, yesterday.
“The kind of multiparty system revived in Uganda should not be based on ethnicity and religious beliefs,†Kolker said.
“Multiypartyism opens the way for others to participate and bring new ideas to politics,†he said.
He said the US government would continue giving Uganda development support.
He hailed Ssekandi for heading the 7th Parliament successfully.
“I have appreciated the way the legislators on both the Government and the opposition side have been debating crucial issues. It has not been simple,†Kolker said.
Ssekandi said he doubted whether Ugandans could find a difference between the parties and the personalities running them.
“My only worry is that since Uganda had embraced the Movement system for 19 years, they may have not understood multiparty politics well, because they equate the parties with the people,†Ssekandi said.
He thanked the US for equipping the Parliamentary Library with up-to-date information technology materials.
Ends