Blackmail, quarrels reign at UPC summit
Mar 13, 2010
THE Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) delegate’s conference yesterday (Friday) kicked off amidst quarrels, tension and blackmail campaigns among the supporters of the various candidates.
By Moses Mulondo
THE Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) delegate’s conference yesterday (Friday) kicked off amidst quarrels, tension and blackmail campaigns among the supporters of the various candidates.
Several party members were seen running in circles complaining that their names had removed from the voter register.
“You are impartial. We want transparency. We shall not accept dirty games. By all means we have to register those who had been unfairly excluded,†Martin Ochen Odiek, a former Makerere University UPC guild contestant, shouted at the secretary general, Chris Opoka.
Many people were heard complaining that Opoka had connived with Otunnu’s camp to exclude those who do not support him.
Angered by the remarks, a visibly tensed up Opoka shouted back and ordered the complainants who had flooded his office to vacate.
“I am aware that the real delegates from districts like Moroto and Otuke are missing on the list of Delegates. Many delegates were just handpicked. If our genuine delegates are not registered we shall not allow the voting to take place,†said Ochen, who is known to be Jimmy Akena’s supporter.
By 10:00am hundreds of delegates had flooded the party headquarters at Uganda House. Tensions were high as campaign agents of the various candidates were seen vigorously distributing posters and fliers of their presidential candidates.
Some went around bitterly trading accusations against the candidates. Among these bitter campaigners included top senior party officials like the party office administrator, Kasirye Mayanja, and presidential candidate Joseph Ochieno who told whoever bothered to listen that it would be a disaster to vote former UN diplomat OLara Otunnu as the UPC president.
“Where is Olara Otunnu’s home? Where is his wife? What has he done for UPC? Why did he join the government of Tito Okello if he was not among those who toppled the UPC government? It would be an insult for a man to kill your father and then he asks to be the heir,†Kasirye said.
“We shall not accept Otunnu to takeover UPC. He has no UPC at heart. He is just looking for a job because he is now jobless. UPC has many brains that cannot let him rule the party.â€
Kasirye, who is the party’s secretary for districts and constituencies later informed Saturday Vision that although there are eight candidates in the race for the presidency of the party, the race has two main people.
“The race is between Akena and Otunnu. Others are just escorting these two,†Kasirye said.
Without fearing to be quoted, a tensed up Joseph Ochieno alleged that he was confident that Otunnu was part of the plotters of the 1985 coup. But Otunnu has always denied this allegation.
“Francis Bwebgye of DP said in an Observer interview that Otunnu persuaded them to join the pending government of Okello before the coup transpired. I will keep telling the delegates that Otunnu brought UPC in the mess and that he should not be allowed to take us into another mess,†Ochieno said.
Ochieno said he will not accept the results if Otunnu wins. “It is Otunnu’s camp that forced us to go into this election when we have not conducted grassroot elections. They have been doing many dubious things to make Otunnu win through the back door,†he added.
Other UPC campaigners were seen distributing derogatory letters against rival candidates. One letter was alleged that Akena had received money from the NRM party to fail Otunnu’s bid for presidency while another counter letter from Akena’s camp was giving information on how Otunnu frustrated UPC’s continued stay in power.
The party will elect a flag bearer today and its candidate will compete with others for the position of joint opposition candidate.
THE Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) delegate’s conference yesterday (Friday) kicked off amidst quarrels, tension and blackmail campaigns among the supporters of the various candidates.
Several party members were seen running in circles complaining that their names had removed from the voter register.
“You are impartial. We want transparency. We shall not accept dirty games. By all means we have to register those who had been unfairly excluded,†Martin Ochen Odiek, a former Makerere University UPC guild contestant, shouted at the secretary general, Chris Opoka.
Many people were heard complaining that Opoka had connived with Otunnu’s camp to exclude those who do not support him.
Angered by the remarks, a visibly tensed up Opoka shouted back and ordered the complainants who had flooded his office to vacate.
“I am aware that the real delegates from districts like Moroto and Otuke are missing on the list of Delegates. Many delegates were just handpicked. If our genuine delegates are not registered we shall not allow the voting to take place,†said Ochen, who is known to be Jimmy Akena’s supporter.
By 10:00am hundreds of delegates had flooded the party headquarters at Uganda House. Tensions were high as campaign agents of the various candidates were seen vigorously distributing posters and fliers of their presidential candidates.
Some went around bitterly trading accusations against the candidates. Among these bitter campaigners included top senior party officials like the party office administrator, Kasirye Mayanja, and presidential candidate Joseph Ochieno who told whoever bothered to listen that it would be a disaster to vote former UN diplomat OLara Otunnu as the UPC president.
“Where is Olara Otunnu’s home? Where is his wife? What has he done for UPC? Why did he join the government of Tito Okello if he was not among those who toppled the UPC government? It would be an insult for a man to kill your father and then he asks to be the heir,†Kasirye said.
“We shall not accept Otunnu to takeover UPC. He has no UPC at heart. He is just looking for a job because he is now jobless. UPC has many brains that cannot let him rule the party.â€
Kasirye, who is the party’s secretary for districts and constituencies later informed Saturday Vision that although there are eight candidates in the race for the presidency of the party, the race has two main people.
“The race is between Akena and Otunnu. Others are just escorting these two,†Kasirye said.
Without fearing to be quoted, a tensed up Joseph Ochieno alleged that he was confident that Otunnu was part of the plotters of the 1985 coup. But Otunnu has always denied this allegation.
“Francis Bwebgye of DP said in an Observer interview that Otunnu persuaded them to join the pending government of Okello before the coup transpired. I will keep telling the delegates that Otunnu brought UPC in the mess and that he should not be allowed to take us into another mess,†Ochieno said.
Ochieno said he will not accept the results if Otunnu wins. “It is Otunnu’s camp that forced us to go into this election when we have not conducted grassroot elections. They have been doing many dubious things to make Otunnu win through the back door,†he added.
Other UPC campaigners were seen distributing derogatory letters against rival candidates. One letter was alleged that Akena had received money from the NRM party to fail Otunnu’s bid for presidency while another counter letter from Akena’s camp was giving information on how Otunnu frustrated UPC’s continued stay in power.
The party will elect a flag bearer today and its candidate will compete with others for the position of joint opposition candidate.