Why I had to quit PAFO for NRM-O
I was founder chairman of the Parliamentary Advocacy Forum (PAFO). Because of the vibrancy of the group, many people looked at it as an alternative political dispensation.
By Emmanuel Dombo
I was founder chairman of the Parliamentary Advocacy Forum (PAFO). Because of the vibrancy of the group, many people looked at it as an alternative political dispensation. Some members may also have perceived it from that perspective but as founding chairman, I saw PAFO as a forum, which was intended to give more strength to Parliament. It became really difficult trying to harmonise the views of members because we had extreme multi-partyists like Hon. Ben Wacha and Hon. Patrick Musisi. We also had moderates like Hon. Fred Ruhindi, Hon. Banyenzaki and Hon. Adolf Mwesigye who looked at it as a forum and belonged to the Movement.
When NRM was formed, I became a founder member and I am a signatory in its constitution. At that time PAFO had not joined with Reform Agenda (RA) to form FDC.
Later, RA invited us for discussions and we took a position as PAFO executive that members were free to go to those negotiations as individuals but to represent PAFO. Hon. Jack Sabiiti attended most of the meetings and used to tell us what transpired.
Once it became clear that PAFO was fully becoming a political dispensation after striking a balance with RA to form FDC, I felt it had become competitive to NRM which I had helped to found. I chose to belong NRM as a founder member.
In African countries it is not easy to begin new organisations. The NRM as a successor organisation of the Movement had viable organs already established.
Secondly, NRM is part of the Government. It is difficult to draw a line between NRM the party and the Government. Who am I to belong to something where you are perceived as fighting the Government? Look at the issue of third term. If you went to the local community and started talking about safeguarding the Constitution, their immediate perception would be that you hate President Museveni. Under the circumstances, you must go with the people to a level where they will understand you.
For example, there is a big bridge being constructed in my constituency at over sh400m. It was a river with a huge log across and every time it rained, this log would be submerged and many people who attempted to cross would drown. My people told a minister that ‘if you can help us get a bridge, we shall give Museveni a third term’. To oppose third term in the eyes of the community would be to oppose the bridge. For them, anybody who talks against the person who is likely to give them the bridge is to talk against their own existence.
Then I asked myself that as a leader, how far should I go to oppose the position of the people I represent without risking my own survival as a politician.
My position was that President Museveni is a good leader and he could be given a third term without removing the term limits.
I knew an Amin could easily come after Museveni and distort all the good things that have happened. But when we met as NRM, I tried to sell my position, we voted on it and those who wanted term limits lifted were more. I accepted to be bound by that position because parties operate that way.
In the two times President Museveni has contested, he has been returned by over 70 percent in Bunyole. To the local community, opposing third term is opposing Museveni. Now I support lifting term limits as we agreed in NRM but firstly, this is the same position my people asked me to present.
Emmanuel Dombo, MP for Bunyole, was talking to Hamis Kaheru
Ends
I was founder chairman of the Parliamentary Advocacy Forum (PAFO). Because of the vibrancy of the group, many people looked at it as an alternative political dispensation. Some members may also have perceived it from that perspective but as founding chairman, I saw PAFO as a forum, which was intended to give more strength to Parliament. It became really difficult trying to harmonise the views of members because we had extreme multi-partyists like Hon. Ben Wacha and Hon. Patrick Musisi. We also had moderates like Hon. Fred Ruhindi, Hon. Banyenzaki and Hon. Adolf Mwesigye who looked at it as a forum and belonged to the Movement.
When NRM was formed, I became a founder member and I am a signatory in its constitution. At that time PAFO had not joined with Reform Agenda (RA) to form FDC.
Later, RA invited us for discussions and we took a position as PAFO executive that members were free to go to those negotiations as individuals but to represent PAFO. Hon. Jack Sabiiti attended most of the meetings and used to tell us what transpired.
Once it became clear that PAFO was fully becoming a political dispensation after striking a balance with RA to form FDC, I felt it had become competitive to NRM which I had helped to found. I chose to belong NRM as a founder member.
In African countries it is not easy to begin new organisations. The NRM as a successor organisation of the Movement had viable organs already established.
Secondly, NRM is part of the Government. It is difficult to draw a line between NRM the party and the Government. Who am I to belong to something where you are perceived as fighting the Government? Look at the issue of third term. If you went to the local community and started talking about safeguarding the Constitution, their immediate perception would be that you hate President Museveni. Under the circumstances, you must go with the people to a level where they will understand you.
For example, there is a big bridge being constructed in my constituency at over sh400m. It was a river with a huge log across and every time it rained, this log would be submerged and many people who attempted to cross would drown. My people told a minister that ‘if you can help us get a bridge, we shall give Museveni a third term’. To oppose third term in the eyes of the community would be to oppose the bridge. For them, anybody who talks against the person who is likely to give them the bridge is to talk against their own existence.
Then I asked myself that as a leader, how far should I go to oppose the position of the people I represent without risking my own survival as a politician.
My position was that President Museveni is a good leader and he could be given a third term without removing the term limits.
I knew an Amin could easily come after Museveni and distort all the good things that have happened. But when we met as NRM, I tried to sell my position, we voted on it and those who wanted term limits lifted were more. I accepted to be bound by that position because parties operate that way.
In the two times President Museveni has contested, he has been returned by over 70 percent in Bunyole. To the local community, opposing third term is opposing Museveni. Now I support lifting term limits as we agreed in NRM but firstly, this is the same position my people asked me to present.
Emmanuel Dombo, MP for Bunyole, was talking to Hamis Kaheru
Ends