The squabbles in the Democratic Party grow louder
Nov 18, 2003
The factional fighting bearing Francis Bwengye on one side and Paul Ssemogerere on the other is yet to be resolved
By Joshua Kato
The factional fighting bearing Francis Bwengye on one side and Paul Ssemogerere on the other is yet to be resolved. Bwengye has been consistently referred to as a Movement stooge planted to destabilise the party. Bwengye has even been rejected by the chairman of the political groups committee.
But now an even bigger split between the group that hitherto held together the Uganda Young Democrats is developing. The UYD is the most progressive wing of the party.
The two groups include one headed by Dr. Lulume Bayiga and another ostensibly led by Michael Mabikke, UYD secretary general and member of parliament for Makindye East.
“We had some divisions, but they were not as outspoken as they are now,†says a party member.
All indications are that the problem is over power. Several party members are fighting over who should succeed Ssebaana Kizito as mayor of Kampala. Ssebaana has categorically stated that he is not standing for a “third term.â€
Nasser Ssebaggala, former Kampala Mayor, currently pursuing studies in Britain hinted that he will first go for the mayorship, before standing for presidency.
He has already directed his foot soldiers, most of whom are in the UYD to prepare the ground for him. These include Michael Mabikke, Kenneth Kakande and even Leander Komakech the chairman.
However, Ssebaana has been fronting his deputy, Hajji Hasib Takuba Kabuye, as his chosen successor. According to those who support Ssebaggala, Ssebaana is reneging on his promise of keeping the chair for Ssebaggala.
In the confusion, enters the ambitious, but not so successful Damiano Lubega. It is said that the DP secretary general has also lined up for the mayoral seat. Lubega was among the very first people who showed intentions of running for the seat way back in 1998.
However, he was beaten to the post by Ssebaggala, who had showed his intentions a year earlier.
A section of the UYD led by the speaker Muwanga Kivumbi, James Ssekidde of Ndeeba and Ambrose Bukenya supports Lubega. This group says that they have no big difference between them and the other group. “Our only problem is Mabikke. We cannot support a side with him as its leader,†one of them said.
Michael Mabikke called a press conference and called the leaders retrogressive. He advised Damiano Lubega, to stick to his role as “advisor†to the UYD, rather than dividing the young turks.
UYD are the power brokers in the party. For any member of the party to win an election, he has to win over the support of UYD.
This is why it is a strategy for Damiano Lubega to win himself some of the support of the UYD. However, in the process, he sets himself against the power of the likes Hajji Nasser Ssebaggala who is worshiped by a section of the most vibrant UYD members, including Mabikke.
John Kawanga, MP Masaka Municipality and legal Advisor to the party says that the squabbles in the party are normal in all democratic institutions. “This is an indicator that you cannot stop anybody from speaking in a democratic party like DP,†he says.
By the end of last week, the party leadership was taking some measures to defuse the impasse. A five member committee has been set up to probe the cause of the problems. This group has LC 3 chairman Charles Sserunjogi, Erias Lukwago, Paul Kato Lubwama, Deo Kijjambu and John Mary Luberenga.
There are also reports that Ssemogerere has accepted to hand over power by December, during a delegates conference.
“This was the culmination of a series of meetings between Ssemogerere and Francis Bwengye of the splinter group. The meetings have been organised by among others, Kasiano Wadri the DP Parliamentary caucus chairman.
It is however said that Ssemogerere accepted only to hand over power, if Bwengye denounces his title as legal president general of the party. “ There is no way our President can hand over power without following the correct procedures,†says Jude Mbabali, DP spokesman.
The factional fighting bearing Francis Bwengye on one side and Paul Ssemogerere on the other is yet to be resolved. Bwengye has been consistently referred to as a Movement stooge planted to destabilise the party. Bwengye has even been rejected by the chairman of the political groups committee.
But now an even bigger split between the group that hitherto held together the Uganda Young Democrats is developing. The UYD is the most progressive wing of the party.
The two groups include one headed by Dr. Lulume Bayiga and another ostensibly led by Michael Mabikke, UYD secretary general and member of parliament for Makindye East.
“We had some divisions, but they were not as outspoken as they are now,†says a party member.
All indications are that the problem is over power. Several party members are fighting over who should succeed Ssebaana Kizito as mayor of Kampala. Ssebaana has categorically stated that he is not standing for a “third term.â€
Nasser Ssebaggala, former Kampala Mayor, currently pursuing studies in Britain hinted that he will first go for the mayorship, before standing for presidency.
He has already directed his foot soldiers, most of whom are in the UYD to prepare the ground for him. These include Michael Mabikke, Kenneth Kakande and even Leander Komakech the chairman.
However, Ssebaana has been fronting his deputy, Hajji Hasib Takuba Kabuye, as his chosen successor. According to those who support Ssebaggala, Ssebaana is reneging on his promise of keeping the chair for Ssebaggala.
In the confusion, enters the ambitious, but not so successful Damiano Lubega. It is said that the DP secretary general has also lined up for the mayoral seat. Lubega was among the very first people who showed intentions of running for the seat way back in 1998.
However, he was beaten to the post by Ssebaggala, who had showed his intentions a year earlier.
A section of the UYD led by the speaker Muwanga Kivumbi, James Ssekidde of Ndeeba and Ambrose Bukenya supports Lubega. This group says that they have no big difference between them and the other group. “Our only problem is Mabikke. We cannot support a side with him as its leader,†one of them said.
Michael Mabikke called a press conference and called the leaders retrogressive. He advised Damiano Lubega, to stick to his role as “advisor†to the UYD, rather than dividing the young turks.
UYD are the power brokers in the party. For any member of the party to win an election, he has to win over the support of UYD.
This is why it is a strategy for Damiano Lubega to win himself some of the support of the UYD. However, in the process, he sets himself against the power of the likes Hajji Nasser Ssebaggala who is worshiped by a section of the most vibrant UYD members, including Mabikke.
John Kawanga, MP Masaka Municipality and legal Advisor to the party says that the squabbles in the party are normal in all democratic institutions. “This is an indicator that you cannot stop anybody from speaking in a democratic party like DP,†he says.
By the end of last week, the party leadership was taking some measures to defuse the impasse. A five member committee has been set up to probe the cause of the problems. This group has LC 3 chairman Charles Sserunjogi, Erias Lukwago, Paul Kato Lubwama, Deo Kijjambu and John Mary Luberenga.
There are also reports that Ssemogerere has accepted to hand over power by December, during a delegates conference.
“This was the culmination of a series of meetings between Ssemogerere and Francis Bwengye of the splinter group. The meetings have been organised by among others, Kasiano Wadri the DP Parliamentary caucus chairman.
It is however said that Ssemogerere accepted only to hand over power, if Bwengye denounces his title as legal president general of the party. “ There is no way our President can hand over power without following the correct procedures,†says Jude Mbabali, DP spokesman.