DP to protest Kampala takeover
Jun 30, 2009
THE Democratic Party (DP) leaders have resolved to carry out a campaign against the Government’s plan to take over Kampala city.
By Moses Mulondo
and Jeff Lule
THE Democratic Party (DP) leaders have resolved to carry out a campaign against the Government’s plan to take over Kampala city.
The campaign will be launched in Kawempe on Friday, according to resolutions passed during the party meeting at Christ the King Church in Kampala on Monday.
The meeting was attended by over 200 top party officials including leaders from Wakiso, Kampala, Mpigi and Mukono, which are affected by the Bill.
Speaking during a press briefing yesterday, Erias Lukwago said the participants resolved to collect signatures to petition Parliament for a referendum on some articles of the Bill.
“If we seek a referendum on the whole Bill, they will argue that it was already passed. So we will be specific on the issue of taking away power from people and expanding Kampala into the Buganda’s territory,†said the party’s legal advisor.
“The President has defined battle lines which he will not manage. We will not surrender and we cannot let the process take the normal procedure in Parliament, because the NRM majority will pass it.â€
Lukwago argued that annexing the districts of Buganda to another entity was a violation of the Constitution.
He noted that the party had resolved not to take their views to the local government committee because they did not have much faith in it.
Lukwago said the issue could not be challenged in court because it was not yet law.
The party president, Ssebaana Kizito, said the NRM Government was using the Bill to rule Kampala forcefully after DP trounced it in all the previous elections.
“By so doing, they want to weaken DP. This is against the Constitution and the God-given right that all power belongs to people. However much they sugar-coat it, we shall resist them with all our strength,†Ssebaana vowed.
The meeting also drafted a letter to President Yoweri Museveni requesting him to withdraw the Bill.
The party spokesperson, Betty Nambooze, said the letter would be copied to diplomatic missions and development partners.
She noted that the letter was a caution to the President that if he rejects their plea, he would feel the impact of the people’s power.
“The President praises himself for giving Ugandans freedom to determine how and who should rule them. Why is he doing the opposite in Kampala, where a majority of people are learned and are capable of making informed decisions?†Nambooze asked.
The meting also resolved to invite other opposition parties to join them to oppose the Bill.
and Jeff Lule
THE Democratic Party (DP) leaders have resolved to carry out a campaign against the Government’s plan to take over Kampala city.
The campaign will be launched in Kawempe on Friday, according to resolutions passed during the party meeting at Christ the King Church in Kampala on Monday.
The meeting was attended by over 200 top party officials including leaders from Wakiso, Kampala, Mpigi and Mukono, which are affected by the Bill.
Speaking during a press briefing yesterday, Erias Lukwago said the participants resolved to collect signatures to petition Parliament for a referendum on some articles of the Bill.
“If we seek a referendum on the whole Bill, they will argue that it was already passed. So we will be specific on the issue of taking away power from people and expanding Kampala into the Buganda’s territory,†said the party’s legal advisor.
“The President has defined battle lines which he will not manage. We will not surrender and we cannot let the process take the normal procedure in Parliament, because the NRM majority will pass it.â€
Lukwago argued that annexing the districts of Buganda to another entity was a violation of the Constitution.
He noted that the party had resolved not to take their views to the local government committee because they did not have much faith in it.
Lukwago said the issue could not be challenged in court because it was not yet law.
The party president, Ssebaana Kizito, said the NRM Government was using the Bill to rule Kampala forcefully after DP trounced it in all the previous elections.
“By so doing, they want to weaken DP. This is against the Constitution and the God-given right that all power belongs to people. However much they sugar-coat it, we shall resist them with all our strength,†Ssebaana vowed.
The meeting also drafted a letter to President Yoweri Museveni requesting him to withdraw the Bill.
The party spokesperson, Betty Nambooze, said the letter would be copied to diplomatic missions and development partners.
She noted that the letter was a caution to the President that if he rejects their plea, he would feel the impact of the people’s power.
“The President praises himself for giving Ugandans freedom to determine how and who should rule them. Why is he doing the opposite in Kampala, where a majority of people are learned and are capable of making informed decisions?†Nambooze asked.
The meting also resolved to invite other opposition parties to join them to oppose the Bill.