Tackle governance at summit, Miria says
Oct 22, 2008
THE president of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) party, Miria Obote, has demanded that the tripartite summit, held in Kampala, tackles good governance.
By Ganzi Muhanguzi,
Patrick Jaramogi
and Moses Mulondo
THE president of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) party, Miria Obote, has demanded that the tripartite summit, held in Kampala, tackles good governance.
Addressing journalists at the party’s headquarters yesterday, Obote criticised the Government over what she called ‘routine abuse of fundamental human rights.’
“The greatest set back of the East African Community, COMESA and SADC is their failure to institutionalise good governance,†she said.
The three blocs, comprising 26 countries in eastern and southern Africa, discussed economic integration and cooperation on transport, energy and ICT.
Presidents Kgalema Motlanthe of South Africa, Pual Kagame of Rwanda, Mwai Kibaki of Kenya, Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and Burundi’s vice-president attended the meeting. The Zimbabwean opposition also sent a delegation.
Obote also contested the legitimacy of some of the leaders who attended the summit.
“Because several of the leaders in EAC, COMESA and SADC do not enjoy popular support, they are in office against the will of their people.â€
She added that the failure of the three trading blocs to develop into effective common markets was regrettable.
“The lack of harmonisation between these blocs is a source of duplication, and wastage of scarce resources,†she said.
She urged Africans to demand good governance and called for sanctions against errand leaders through regional and national courts.
Commenting on the political impasse in Zimbabwe, Patrick Mwondha, a UPC official, said it was a tragedy that the ruling party and main opposition party had failed to reach an agreement.
“Zimbabwe is virtually a failed state at the moment, and this is the tragedy of African governance,†he said.
On a different note, Obote said her party was still looking for a suitable candidate for the Kyadondo North parliamentary seat. The seat fell vacant after Prof. Ssebunya Kibirige passed away earlier this month.
“We are still searching for a suitable candidate, but for now, there is none,†she said.
Patrick Jaramogi
and Moses Mulondo
THE president of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) party, Miria Obote, has demanded that the tripartite summit, held in Kampala, tackles good governance.
Addressing journalists at the party’s headquarters yesterday, Obote criticised the Government over what she called ‘routine abuse of fundamental human rights.’
“The greatest set back of the East African Community, COMESA and SADC is their failure to institutionalise good governance,†she said.
The three blocs, comprising 26 countries in eastern and southern Africa, discussed economic integration and cooperation on transport, energy and ICT.
Presidents Kgalema Motlanthe of South Africa, Pual Kagame of Rwanda, Mwai Kibaki of Kenya, Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and Burundi’s vice-president attended the meeting. The Zimbabwean opposition also sent a delegation.
Obote also contested the legitimacy of some of the leaders who attended the summit.
“Because several of the leaders in EAC, COMESA and SADC do not enjoy popular support, they are in office against the will of their people.â€
She added that the failure of the three trading blocs to develop into effective common markets was regrettable.
“The lack of harmonisation between these blocs is a source of duplication, and wastage of scarce resources,†she said.
She urged Africans to demand good governance and called for sanctions against errand leaders through regional and national courts.
Commenting on the political impasse in Zimbabwe, Patrick Mwondha, a UPC official, said it was a tragedy that the ruling party and main opposition party had failed to reach an agreement.
“Zimbabwe is virtually a failed state at the moment, and this is the tragedy of African governance,†he said.
On a different note, Obote said her party was still looking for a suitable candidate for the Kyadondo North parliamentary seat. The seat fell vacant after Prof. Ssebunya Kibirige passed away earlier this month.
“We are still searching for a suitable candidate, but for now, there is none,†she said.