Lango UPC leaders criticise Miria
Jun 16, 2009
UGANDA Peoples’ Congress (UPC) party leaders in Lango sub-region have criticised Jimmy Akena’s appointed as party vice-chairperson.
By Alex Ocen
UGANDA Peoples’ Congress (UPC) party leaders in Lango sub-region have criticised Jimmy Akena’s appointed as party vice-chairperson.
The leaders said politics was not a kingdom where leadership is inherited, but a national agenda to be shared and supported by the majority.
The chairperson of the Lango UPC caucus, Prof. Willy Anokkobongo, said party president Miria Obote acted in bad faith by appointing her son to the post.
He said the appointment might be interpreted by supporters outside the sub-region as a plan to have the party’s top leadership rotate among the Langi.
He also warned that the act could destroy the party’s image and its strategy to gain more support and win the 2011 elections.
Anokkobongo’s comments come after party stalwarts, Peter Walubiri, the former secretary general and Livingstone Okello Okello, the former vice-president, criticised the recent cabinet reshuffle.
Walubiri and Okello Okello were dropped from the party leadership in the reshuffle by Miria.
Akena, who is also the MP for Lira Municipality, was appointed the party assistant vice-chairperson in a move seen as a ploy to have him stand for the party presidency in the next delegates conference.
“Other tribes will look at the appointment as a plan by the Obote family to own the party. UPC is a national party and Miria should have appointed a person from another tribe,†Anokkobongo, the MP for Kwania, said.
Addressing journalists last week, Miria defended her son’s appointment, saying he was eligible for the position.
“He (Akena) is no longer a child. I cannot stand in his way if he wants to follow his father’s footsteps. As a mother, I will support him,†Miria said.
UGANDA Peoples’ Congress (UPC) party leaders in Lango sub-region have criticised Jimmy Akena’s appointed as party vice-chairperson.
The leaders said politics was not a kingdom where leadership is inherited, but a national agenda to be shared and supported by the majority.
The chairperson of the Lango UPC caucus, Prof. Willy Anokkobongo, said party president Miria Obote acted in bad faith by appointing her son to the post.
He said the appointment might be interpreted by supporters outside the sub-region as a plan to have the party’s top leadership rotate among the Langi.
He also warned that the act could destroy the party’s image and its strategy to gain more support and win the 2011 elections.
Anokkobongo’s comments come after party stalwarts, Peter Walubiri, the former secretary general and Livingstone Okello Okello, the former vice-president, criticised the recent cabinet reshuffle.
Walubiri and Okello Okello were dropped from the party leadership in the reshuffle by Miria.
Akena, who is also the MP for Lira Municipality, was appointed the party assistant vice-chairperson in a move seen as a ploy to have him stand for the party presidency in the next delegates conference.
“Other tribes will look at the appointment as a plan by the Obote family to own the party. UPC is a national party and Miria should have appointed a person from another tribe,†Anokkobongo, the MP for Kwania, said.
Addressing journalists last week, Miria defended her son’s appointment, saying he was eligible for the position.
“He (Akena) is no longer a child. I cannot stand in his way if he wants to follow his father’s footsteps. As a mother, I will support him,†Miria said.