UPC's Cecilia Ogwal crosses to FDC
Sep 30, 2010
FIVE seasoned opposition politicians of the Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) from Lango intend to contest next year’s election on the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) ticket.
By Barbara Among and Bill Oketch
FIVE seasoned opposition politicians of the Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) from Lango intend to contest next year’s election on the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) ticket.
Ben Wacha (Oyam North) Cecilia Ogwal (Dokolo Woman MP), Ojok B’leo (Kyoga), Charles Gutomoi (Erute North) and Dokolo district chairman Okello Okello said “their people†support the decision.
The MPs announced the decision last Friday at the Mayor’s Gardens in Lira, while meeting FDC boss Kizza Besigye.
The four MPs contested as independents in the 2006 elections, after falling out with party leader Miria Obote. Okello stood on the UPC ticket. “Our people are fully behind us. The only thing is to sort out the legal impediments,†said Gutomoi.
Tom Odur Anang, the FDC vice-chairman for the north, said the MPs would not participate in the primaries slated for today because of legal impediments. He said lawyers were reviewing the Constitution, which forbids an independent MP to cross to a political party unless he first resigns.
“If the law does not favour the MPs, they will have to sacrifice their seats,†Odur said.
Oyam South MP Isha Otto (UPC) last week sued 22 independent MPs who contested in primaries of other political parties. He accused them of violating the Constitution.
Otto wants Parliament to declare the MPs’ constituencies vacant and the court to stop their salaries
Wacha, Ogwal, Ojok B’Leo and Gutomoi in 2008 signed a pact with FDC to remain as independents, while working closely with the party.
Lango sub-region is one of the strongholds of the UPC party, from where founder Milton Obote hails. The party, however, suffered defections even before Obote died.
Secretary general Joseph Bbosa yesterday said the MPs were free to contest on any party ticket and the party had fielded flag-bearers against them.
“They have not made any indication that they intend to come back to UPC. What they have done is not surprising; they have done that before.â€
Party president Olara Otunnu, he said, had invited back all “wayward†MPs in vain. “We tried our best, but they have decided to go,†Bbosa added.
Otunnu is today expected to announce if the party will participate in the elections
Five other UPC MPs have crossed to the ruling NRM party. They are Ebong David of Maruzi county, Caroline Oka, the Woman MP Amolatar, Rebecca Otengo, the Lira Woman MP and Franco Ojur, the Lira district chairman. Lands minister, who earlier joined the NRM, was recently elected the flag-bearer for Otuke county
UPC is left with six MPs in the region: Moroto county MP Benson Ogwal, Erute North MP John Odit, Willy Anokbonggo of Kwania county who was defeated in the primaries, John Ogwang of Kole county, Isha Otto of Oyam South and Jimmy Akena of Lira Municipality.
FIVE seasoned opposition politicians of the Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) from Lango intend to contest next year’s election on the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) ticket.
Ben Wacha (Oyam North) Cecilia Ogwal (Dokolo Woman MP), Ojok B’leo (Kyoga), Charles Gutomoi (Erute North) and Dokolo district chairman Okello Okello said “their people†support the decision.
The MPs announced the decision last Friday at the Mayor’s Gardens in Lira, while meeting FDC boss Kizza Besigye.
The four MPs contested as independents in the 2006 elections, after falling out with party leader Miria Obote. Okello stood on the UPC ticket. “Our people are fully behind us. The only thing is to sort out the legal impediments,†said Gutomoi.
Tom Odur Anang, the FDC vice-chairman for the north, said the MPs would not participate in the primaries slated for today because of legal impediments. He said lawyers were reviewing the Constitution, which forbids an independent MP to cross to a political party unless he first resigns.
“If the law does not favour the MPs, they will have to sacrifice their seats,†Odur said.
Oyam South MP Isha Otto (UPC) last week sued 22 independent MPs who contested in primaries of other political parties. He accused them of violating the Constitution.
Otto wants Parliament to declare the MPs’ constituencies vacant and the court to stop their salaries
Wacha, Ogwal, Ojok B’Leo and Gutomoi in 2008 signed a pact with FDC to remain as independents, while working closely with the party.
Lango sub-region is one of the strongholds of the UPC party, from where founder Milton Obote hails. The party, however, suffered defections even before Obote died.
Secretary general Joseph Bbosa yesterday said the MPs were free to contest on any party ticket and the party had fielded flag-bearers against them.
“They have not made any indication that they intend to come back to UPC. What they have done is not surprising; they have done that before.â€
Party president Olara Otunnu, he said, had invited back all “wayward†MPs in vain. “We tried our best, but they have decided to go,†Bbosa added.
Otunnu is today expected to announce if the party will participate in the elections
Five other UPC MPs have crossed to the ruling NRM party. They are Ebong David of Maruzi county, Caroline Oka, the Woman MP Amolatar, Rebecca Otengo, the Lira Woman MP and Franco Ojur, the Lira district chairman. Lands minister, who earlier joined the NRM, was recently elected the flag-bearer for Otuke county
UPC is left with six MPs in the region: Moroto county MP Benson Ogwal, Erute North MP John Odit, Willy Anokbonggo of Kwania county who was defeated in the primaries, John Ogwang of Kole county, Isha Otto of Oyam South and Jimmy Akena of Lira Municipality.