Museveni Clinging To Power â€" Partyists
Apr 01, 2003
MULTIPARTY activists have accused President Yoweri Museveni of seeking to cling to power through the removal of the constitutional two-term limit.
By John Kakande
MULTIPARTY activists have accused President Yoweri Museveni of seeking to cling to power through the removal of the constitutional two-term limit.
Several opposition leaders interviewed yesterday also dismissed as doubtful the resolution adopted by the Movement’s highest organ, the National Conference, calling for opening up of political space for parties.
The resolutions also drew critical reactions from the South Africa-based Uganda Democracy Awareness Campaign group as well as self-styled freedom fighter Herman Ssemuju in London.
Dr. Adonia Tiberondwa of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), Sam Njuba of Reform Agenda and Kibirige Mayanja of Justice Forum all expressed “disappointment†with the outcome of the deliberations of the Movement’s National Conference (MNC) and the National Executive Committee (NEC).
Lira Municipality MP and UPC stalwart Cecilia Ogwal said her prediction had been proved right that Museveni would not accept genuine opening up of political space.
“Whereas the President says he wants the parties freed, at the same time he is talking about referendum. Is that not falsehood?†Ogwal asked.
MP Ken Lukyamuzi, the Conservative Party secretary general, attacked ex-president Godfrey Binaisa, saying it was him and Milton Obote who overthrew the federal constitution. Lukyamuzi was irked by Binaisa’s remarks that Buganda should not be granted fully-fledged federal status.
Tiberondwa, the chairperson of UPC committee on political affairs, said the resolution of the MNC on the parties “does not add anything new.â€
He said Museveni “wants to be like Castro of Cuba, Gaddafi of Libya and Saddam Hussein of Iraq,†adding that Museveni was scheming to give Buganda a fake federal status in order for the Baganda to support him.
“UPC will continue to struggle against the one-party dictatorship until the Constitution and other laws restricting the parties are either repealed or amended,†said Tiberondwa, a former minister in Obote II regime.
Reform Agenda deputy chairman Sam Njuba said the multipartyists had no cause yet to celebrate the Movement’s resolution endorsing opening up political space.
“We saw the need for opening up political space and federalism 10 years ago. It is good they (Movement) have seen it. It is due to pressure from the opposition and the donor group. They are yielding to pressure,†Njuba, the first NRM minister for constitutional affairs, told The New Vision yesterday.
“We need to dismantle the whole oppressive machinery of the Movement. In Kenya it took 10 years,†Njuba added.
“We also need dialogue between opposition and the Movement if the transition is to be meaningful. What is clear is the third term, but there is confusion about the parties. Museveni is also not clear on federalism. We need to study the proposals,†he said.
“He (President) would save us a lot of problems if he involved everybody and not only his sycophants,†said Njuba adding, “I believe the third term is for him although he is denying.â€
Njuba warned that Museveni has “a hidden agenda, a strategy within a strategy.â€
Kibirige Mayanja, the president of Justice Forum, said he was disappointed by the MNC resolutions on the parties and third term.
“Uganda is becoming the odd man out in East Africa. Moi showed a good example and stepped down. Mkapa is not expected to tamper with the Constitution. Bakili Muluzi of Malawi has finally backed down. The trend in Africa now is two terms. We are moving in reverse order as far as democratisation is concerned,†Mayanja charged.
“We believe President Museveni has had enough time to execute his ideas and plans. What he has done he has done, what he has not, even if you give him another 20 years he will not do. He has made enough enemies and foes. He is now making enemies with people from his own inner circle,†Mayanja said.
“We believe a term limit is essential for democracy and stability. His stay is going to be a liability to the country,†Mayanja added.
Mayanja said the Movement is to continue getting funds from taxpayers.
A two-time presidential race contestant, Mayanja said parties would be further crippled and that corruption would persist due to “the Movement system that works on cronyism.â€
Mayanja, however, applauded Miria Matembe, the ethics and integrity state minister for speaking against the third term. He said it was unfortunate the Movement leaders ignored Matembe who is an advisor of sorts to the Government as far as ethics and integrity is concerned.
Ends
MULTIPARTY activists have accused President Yoweri Museveni of seeking to cling to power through the removal of the constitutional two-term limit.
Several opposition leaders interviewed yesterday also dismissed as doubtful the resolution adopted by the Movement’s highest organ, the National Conference, calling for opening up of political space for parties.
The resolutions also drew critical reactions from the South Africa-based Uganda Democracy Awareness Campaign group as well as self-styled freedom fighter Herman Ssemuju in London.
Dr. Adonia Tiberondwa of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), Sam Njuba of Reform Agenda and Kibirige Mayanja of Justice Forum all expressed “disappointment†with the outcome of the deliberations of the Movement’s National Conference (MNC) and the National Executive Committee (NEC).
Lira Municipality MP and UPC stalwart Cecilia Ogwal said her prediction had been proved right that Museveni would not accept genuine opening up of political space.
“Whereas the President says he wants the parties freed, at the same time he is talking about referendum. Is that not falsehood?†Ogwal asked.
MP Ken Lukyamuzi, the Conservative Party secretary general, attacked ex-president Godfrey Binaisa, saying it was him and Milton Obote who overthrew the federal constitution. Lukyamuzi was irked by Binaisa’s remarks that Buganda should not be granted fully-fledged federal status.
Tiberondwa, the chairperson of UPC committee on political affairs, said the resolution of the MNC on the parties “does not add anything new.â€
He said Museveni “wants to be like Castro of Cuba, Gaddafi of Libya and Saddam Hussein of Iraq,†adding that Museveni was scheming to give Buganda a fake federal status in order for the Baganda to support him.
“UPC will continue to struggle against the one-party dictatorship until the Constitution and other laws restricting the parties are either repealed or amended,†said Tiberondwa, a former minister in Obote II regime.
Reform Agenda deputy chairman Sam Njuba said the multipartyists had no cause yet to celebrate the Movement’s resolution endorsing opening up political space.
“We saw the need for opening up political space and federalism 10 years ago. It is good they (Movement) have seen it. It is due to pressure from the opposition and the donor group. They are yielding to pressure,†Njuba, the first NRM minister for constitutional affairs, told The New Vision yesterday.
“We need to dismantle the whole oppressive machinery of the Movement. In Kenya it took 10 years,†Njuba added.
“We also need dialogue between opposition and the Movement if the transition is to be meaningful. What is clear is the third term, but there is confusion about the parties. Museveni is also not clear on federalism. We need to study the proposals,†he said.
“He (President) would save us a lot of problems if he involved everybody and not only his sycophants,†said Njuba adding, “I believe the third term is for him although he is denying.â€
Njuba warned that Museveni has “a hidden agenda, a strategy within a strategy.â€
Kibirige Mayanja, the president of Justice Forum, said he was disappointed by the MNC resolutions on the parties and third term.
“Uganda is becoming the odd man out in East Africa. Moi showed a good example and stepped down. Mkapa is not expected to tamper with the Constitution. Bakili Muluzi of Malawi has finally backed down. The trend in Africa now is two terms. We are moving in reverse order as far as democratisation is concerned,†Mayanja charged.
“We believe President Museveni has had enough time to execute his ideas and plans. What he has done he has done, what he has not, even if you give him another 20 years he will not do. He has made enough enemies and foes. He is now making enemies with people from his own inner circle,†Mayanja said.
“We believe a term limit is essential for democracy and stability. His stay is going to be a liability to the country,†Mayanja added.
Mayanja said the Movement is to continue getting funds from taxpayers.
A two-time presidential race contestant, Mayanja said parties would be further crippled and that corruption would persist due to “the Movement system that works on cronyism.â€
Mayanja, however, applauded Miria Matembe, the ethics and integrity state minister for speaking against the third term. He said it was unfortunate the Movement leaders ignored Matembe who is an advisor of sorts to the Government as far as ethics and integrity is concerned.
Ends