Bidandi refuses to join parties coalition
May 06, 2010
THE People’s Progressive Party (PPP) president, Jaberi Bidandi Ssali, has declared that his party will not join the Inter-Party Co-operation (IPC).
By Jude Kafuuma
THE People’s Progressive Party (PPP) president, Jaberi Bidandi Ssali, has declared that his party will not join the Inter-Party Co-operation (IPC).
“We don’t support the idea of having one presidential candidate because it has never worked,†Bidandi said.
He said political coalitions have failed since 1962 when the Uganda People’s Conference (UPC) and Kabaka Yekka united to overthrow the Government but instead caused blood-shed.
The PPP boss also noted that after the 1980 elections, Dr. Andrew Lutaakome Kayiira and President Yoweri Museveni co-operated to overthrow Obote’s government but Kayiira was later killed. The truth of his death has never been established.
“Even then, political parties have not worked hard on a strong foundation of institutions that can support their political ambitions. This is an important factor for the opposition,†Bidandi said.
He was addressing journalists at the Uganda Journalists Association headquarters in Kampala yesterday.
The parties under the coalition are UPC, Forum for Democratic Change, Justice Forum and Conservative Party.
The Democratic Party will give its position by the end of May.
The IPC will elect a flag-bearer in June.
However, Bidandi added that PPP would support a candidate fronted by the opposition against the NRM at the constituency level.
Bidandi also threatened to boycott next year’s general elections if the Electoral Commission does not address issues raised by the opposition since the 2006 elections.
This will be the second time the PPP will not participate in the elections.
The party did not take part in the last parliamentary elections, saying it was not prepared.
However, it contested in the 2008 Kyaddondo North by-elections where PPP’s Ssentamu Ssewandagi lost to Robert NRM’s Kasule.
PPP will hold its national delegates’ conference before the end of June to elect the national executive committee.
When the IPC committee members recently met the Electoral Commission chairman, Eng. Badru Kiggundu, Bidandi admitted that the commission was correcting the irregularities in the voter registration exercise.
THE People’s Progressive Party (PPP) president, Jaberi Bidandi Ssali, has declared that his party will not join the Inter-Party Co-operation (IPC).
“We don’t support the idea of having one presidential candidate because it has never worked,†Bidandi said.
He said political coalitions have failed since 1962 when the Uganda People’s Conference (UPC) and Kabaka Yekka united to overthrow the Government but instead caused blood-shed.
The PPP boss also noted that after the 1980 elections, Dr. Andrew Lutaakome Kayiira and President Yoweri Museveni co-operated to overthrow Obote’s government but Kayiira was later killed. The truth of his death has never been established.
“Even then, political parties have not worked hard on a strong foundation of institutions that can support their political ambitions. This is an important factor for the opposition,†Bidandi said.
He was addressing journalists at the Uganda Journalists Association headquarters in Kampala yesterday.
The parties under the coalition are UPC, Forum for Democratic Change, Justice Forum and Conservative Party.
The Democratic Party will give its position by the end of May.
The IPC will elect a flag-bearer in June.
However, Bidandi added that PPP would support a candidate fronted by the opposition against the NRM at the constituency level.
Bidandi also threatened to boycott next year’s general elections if the Electoral Commission does not address issues raised by the opposition since the 2006 elections.
This will be the second time the PPP will not participate in the elections.
The party did not take part in the last parliamentary elections, saying it was not prepared.
However, it contested in the 2008 Kyaddondo North by-elections where PPP’s Ssentamu Ssewandagi lost to Robert NRM’s Kasule.
PPP will hold its national delegates’ conference before the end of June to elect the national executive committee.
When the IPC committee members recently met the Electoral Commission chairman, Eng. Badru Kiggundu, Bidandi admitted that the commission was correcting the irregularities in the voter registration exercise.