UPC blames 2006 loss on Miria’s voice
The Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) party performed poorly in the 2006 elections because the flag-bearer, Mama Miria Obote, lost her voice.
By Moses Mulondo
The Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) party performed poorly in the 2006 elections because the flag-bearer, Mama Miria Obote, lost her voice.
“Besides the internal challenges we had, you are aware that our candidate lost her voice and failed to speak many times during the campaigns. This greatly contributed to our poor performance in that election,†publicist Benson Ogwang told journalists yesterday in Kampala.
He was responding to a question on how the party hoped to win the 2011 elections yet its candidate performed poorest in the last poll.
Miria was the last among five candidates. She got 57,071 votes, which accounted for 0.82% of cast votes.
She followed Abed Bwanika, an Independent candidate, who got 65, 847 votes.
Ogwang also attributed the poor show to the 20-year ban on political parties imposed by the NRM.
“All opposition parties were not well prepared for the 2006 elections because we had not yet been released from the Movement prison. But 2011 will be a different story. Many opposition parties have set up grassroots structures that were not in place in 2006.â€
Ogwang said preparations were in high gear for the UPC delegates’ conference next month, which is expected to come up with ideas and strategies for the next elections.
He explained that President Yoweri Museveni’s “negative propaganda†denied the party parliamentary seats in the central and western regions.
Ogwang noted that the rift between Mengo and the central Government over the land Bill and other kingdom matters had been exploited by the UPC to popularise itself.
“Museveni’s propaganda machinery in Buganda has finally collapsed. We are already in dialogue with Mengo. We seem to be closer to Mengo now more than Museveni.â€
Most opposition parties have begun gearing for the 2011 polls.
On Sunday, Democratic Party president, Ssebaana Kizito, ruled out an alliance with the Forum for Democratic Change party in the polls.
The Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) party performed poorly in the 2006 elections because the flag-bearer, Mama Miria Obote, lost her voice.
“Besides the internal challenges we had, you are aware that our candidate lost her voice and failed to speak many times during the campaigns. This greatly contributed to our poor performance in that election,†publicist Benson Ogwang told journalists yesterday in Kampala.
He was responding to a question on how the party hoped to win the 2011 elections yet its candidate performed poorest in the last poll.
Miria was the last among five candidates. She got 57,071 votes, which accounted for 0.82% of cast votes.
She followed Abed Bwanika, an Independent candidate, who got 65, 847 votes.
Ogwang also attributed the poor show to the 20-year ban on political parties imposed by the NRM.
“All opposition parties were not well prepared for the 2006 elections because we had not yet been released from the Movement prison. But 2011 will be a different story. Many opposition parties have set up grassroots structures that were not in place in 2006.â€
Ogwang said preparations were in high gear for the UPC delegates’ conference next month, which is expected to come up with ideas and strategies for the next elections.
He explained that President Yoweri Museveni’s “negative propaganda†denied the party parliamentary seats in the central and western regions.
Ogwang noted that the rift between Mengo and the central Government over the land Bill and other kingdom matters had been exploited by the UPC to popularise itself.
“Museveni’s propaganda machinery in Buganda has finally collapsed. We are already in dialogue with Mengo. We seem to be closer to Mengo now more than Museveni.â€
Most opposition parties have begun gearing for the 2011 polls.
On Sunday, Democratic Party president, Ssebaana Kizito, ruled out an alliance with the Forum for Democratic Change party in the polls.