Opposition parties are weak, says Otafiire
Dec 12, 2007
LOCAL government minister, Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire, said the opposition political parties are weak and cannot offer alternative governance.
By Fortunate Ahimbisibwe
LOCAL government minister, Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire, said the opposition political parties are weak and cannot offer alternative governance.
“Most parties were formed along ethnic or religious grounds. This weakens their capacity to tackle issues in an objective manner,†Otafiire said at a symposium on multiparty governance, service delivery and development in Uganda held at Makerere University on Monday.
The seminar was organised by Makerere University convocation in conjunction with Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, a German organisation that monitors democracy and humanrights worldwide.
Otafiire said the political parties do not have a big difference in ideology but in approach.
“I have studied their manifestos and they all talk about the same issues. Unlike parties in Europe which are founded on class differences, here we are in the same peasantry class and therefore cannot have parties based on economic interests.†He said some parties had more internal wrangles than they do with rivalling parties.
“Even in Parliament, the fellows who give me trouble are from my own bench yet I get some sympathy from the opposition. What kind of multipartyism is that?â€
He said the only institution that had fundamental differences with Government was Mengo.
The Gulu district LC5 chairman, Norbert Mao, said the NRM was taking advantage of the problems within the small parties.
He added that the internal problems within the NRM had undermined its credibility. “They diverted from their commitments and that is why some of their comrades like Dr. Kizza Besigye abandoned them.â€
The country representative of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Peter Jirke, said debating was a key element in promoting democracy.
The chairman of the convocation, Bruce Kabasa, appealed to Otafiire to ask President Yoweri Museveni to appoint a chancellor for the university.
LOCAL government minister, Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire, said the opposition political parties are weak and cannot offer alternative governance.
“Most parties were formed along ethnic or religious grounds. This weakens their capacity to tackle issues in an objective manner,†Otafiire said at a symposium on multiparty governance, service delivery and development in Uganda held at Makerere University on Monday.
The seminar was organised by Makerere University convocation in conjunction with Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, a German organisation that monitors democracy and humanrights worldwide.
Otafiire said the political parties do not have a big difference in ideology but in approach.
“I have studied their manifestos and they all talk about the same issues. Unlike parties in Europe which are founded on class differences, here we are in the same peasantry class and therefore cannot have parties based on economic interests.†He said some parties had more internal wrangles than they do with rivalling parties.
“Even in Parliament, the fellows who give me trouble are from my own bench yet I get some sympathy from the opposition. What kind of multipartyism is that?â€
He said the only institution that had fundamental differences with Government was Mengo.
The Gulu district LC5 chairman, Norbert Mao, said the NRM was taking advantage of the problems within the small parties.
He added that the internal problems within the NRM had undermined its credibility. “They diverted from their commitments and that is why some of their comrades like Dr. Kizza Besigye abandoned them.â€
The country representative of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Peter Jirke, said debating was a key element in promoting democracy.
The chairman of the convocation, Bruce Kabasa, appealed to Otafiire to ask President Yoweri Museveni to appoint a chancellor for the university.