THE Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) president, Dr. Apollo Milton Obote, has fired Dr. James Rwanyarare and dissolved his Presidential Policy Commission (PPC) in a major party shake-up.
Obote, who returns home on May 27 from exile in Zambia since 1985, replaced Rwanyarare with UPC’s national chairman, Hajji Badru Wegulo. He will head the newly-formed 23-member Constitutional Steering Commission to prepare the party for elections next year.
Rwanyarare, who has been the defacto UPC leader in Uganda, is now an adviser on relations between the UPC, the National Resistance Movement and the Group of Six allied parties.
Rwanyarare was absent during the press conference addressed by Wegulo. Rwanyarare on Wednesday held his last press conference as PPC chairperson to announce Obote’s return.
Rwanyarare had indicated interest to succeed Obote as party leader.
Obote dissolved UPC’s Party Representative Council and the National Organising Committee.
Other members of the new CSC are Livingstone Okello Okello, Peter Walubiri, Margaret Ateng Otim (Lira MP), Ignatius Barungi, Hamza Sewankambo, Dr. Ezra Nkasibwe, Haji Muhammad Kazimbira, Samuel Mugwisa, John Kawama, Henry Mayega, Patrick Mayega, Patrick Kirunda, Charles Siango, Irene Emulu, Aggrey Awori (Samia Bugwe North), Prof. Patrick Rubaihayo, Dr. Kilama Moro, Chris Opio, Haji Akbar Adoko Nekyon, John Yuma, Margaret Apiliga, Paulex Kolibi and Joseph Ochieno.
Rwanyarare’s advisers are George Masika, N. Ocen, Cuthbert Obwangor and Suruano Isiagi.
Lira Municipality MP Cecilia Ogwal was appointed on the manifesto and constitutional review committee headed by Okello Okello. Others are: Rwanyarare’s former deputy Henry Mayega, Dr. Nkwasibwe, Nekyon, Ochieno and Siango.
Obote directed the CSC to hold elections at branches in April-May 2005, in constituencies in June, at the district in June-ending and a delegates conference in August or September 2005, to mobilise resources and draft a manifesto for approved by the delegates conference.
Obote fires Rwanyarare
