DP youth wing rejects coalition

By Jeff Lule and Moses Mulondo

THE youth wing of the Democratic Party (UYD) has rejected the agreement which parties signed recently to work out strategy for the 2011 elections.

“It is not the right time for parties to integrate,” vice-president Mukasa Mbidde told journalists in Kampala yesterday.

Some people, he said, wanted to use the coalition to ruin DP’s chances of winning the presidency.

The national council, the party’s policy organ, is expected to meet today at Ssebo Green Resort Beach at Bukasa to discuss the possibility of signing the cooperation pact.

The Uganda People’s Congress, Justice Forum, the Conservative Party and the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) signed the deal on August 5.

However, Mbidde said the council did not have the power to decide such issues before consulting party members. “The matter can only be decided through the delegates’ conference.”

FDC chief Dr. Kizza Besigye said the platform would make it easier to remove President Museveni from power.

Both DP and FDC contested against Museveni in 2006 and lost. In 1996, the parties fielded a single candidate, Paul Semwogerere, against Museveni, who also lost.

Yesterday, Mbidde said it was the wrong time to discuss a coalition since parties were facing wrangles.

“We have boycotted the move and call upon all members not to take part to save our party.”

Sources said it was unlikely that DP would sign for fear of being overshadowed by FDC. “The signing may make us lose our members to FDC,” a top official said. “We plan to field our own candidate.”