By Moses Mulondo

FORMER Uganda Human Rights Commissioner Aliro Omara and retired Busoga Diocese Bishop Cyprian Bamwoze are mediating talks between the warring groups in the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) party, a source has revealed.

Party secretary general Chris Opoka yesterday confirmed Bamwoze’s role in initiating the reconciliatory talks between four former senior party members and party president Miria Obote administration.

“Bishop Bamwoze played a role in laying the foundation for the talks,” he said.

The former officials John Okello (vice-president), Peter Lukidi Walubiri (secretary general), Patrick Rubaihayo (party chairperson) and Chris Opio (vice- chairman) dragged the party to court in October after they were suspended.

The four were suspended by Miria on allegation that they held an illegal meeting with the party’s district leaders and directed them to register party members, a move that was perceived by party leaders as ploy to usurp the party’s executive powers.

After being suspended, the officials obtained a court injunction, which stopped the party leaders from holding elections and using party funds.

UPC’s grassroots elections and the delegates’ conference, which had been scheduled for October and November were postponed due to the court case.
A party electoral committee official, Higenyi Kemba, told The New Vision that the party leaders decided to seek an out of court resolution of the matter.

“The case of those four colleagues of ours is political and, therefore, it requires a political solution rather than a legal solution. We are confident that they will reconcile and be reinstated as party members,” Kemba said.

The UPC deputy youth leader, Joseph Ddamulira, said the Young Congress, the party’s youth wing, had earlier appealed to the party leaders to resort to an out-of-court settlement.

“We know that civil cases take long to be sorted out in courts and yet time is running out for us to prepare for the 2011 elections. That is why we pushed for talks between the two groups,” Ddamulira stated.

He said former UN diplomat Olara Otunnu had confirmed that he would arrive in the country on Monday to mediate the reconciliation talks and to start his campaigns for the presidency.

The registered candidates for the UPC presidency include Otunnu, Jimmy Akena, Henry Mayega, Joseph Ochieno, Sophista Akwenyu, Yona Kanyomozi, Patrick Mwondha, Fred Luwero, Onen Ojwang, and Dr. Dickson Opul.