‘Otunnu is not to talk for UPC’
Feb 22, 2010
UGANDA People’s Congress party (UPC) does not support a single candidate under the Inter-Party Cooperation (IPC), a senior party official has disclosed.
By Darious Magara
UGANDA People’s Congress party (UPC) does not support a single candidate under the Inter-Party Cooperation (IPC), a senior party official has disclosed.
A special presidential envoy, Joseph Ochieno, said on Monday that if Olara Otunnu, aspiring for the UPC presidency, supports a single presidential candidate who is under the IPC he does so in his personal capacity.
In an interview with the New Vision, Ochieno, who is also aspiring for the UPC presidency said Otunnu cannot speak for the party.
“Whether he has interests of leading the IPC, he must not speak on our behalf before the party expresses its views on the matter in the delegates’ conference,†he said.
Ochieno’s remarks follow media reports in which Otunnu said the Democratic Party (DP) should join the IPC and work to defeat the NRM party.
“We desire a strong vibrant DP which is good for democracy. So my prayer is that you take a decision of IPC.
Let’s fight the enemy while each party retains its sovereignty, core values†Otunnu said while addressing the DP delegates conference in Mbale on Saturday.
Ochieno explained that UPC has in the past supported national coalitions but their stand must be first approved by the party leadership.
“Ugandans deserve better roads, railway network, UPE, USE and good infrastructure. We should not settle for a government that only refills potholes on tarmac with sand,†he said.
He was delighted with Norbert Mao’s win as the DP party president but hoped that the party leadership will be reconciled.
Otunnu’s spokesman, Wagonda Muguli, said UPC is bound by the stand of the IPC since the party signed a memorandum.
“We fielded different candidates in the Mbale byelections but we shall implement the additional protocol of the IPC in the general elections of 2011,†Muguli said.
The IPC agreed to field a joint presidential candidate in the 2011 polls. The IPC also includes the Forum for Democratic Change party and the Conservative Party.
UGANDA People’s Congress party (UPC) does not support a single candidate under the Inter-Party Cooperation (IPC), a senior party official has disclosed.
A special presidential envoy, Joseph Ochieno, said on Monday that if Olara Otunnu, aspiring for the UPC presidency, supports a single presidential candidate who is under the IPC he does so in his personal capacity.
In an interview with the New Vision, Ochieno, who is also aspiring for the UPC presidency said Otunnu cannot speak for the party.
“Whether he has interests of leading the IPC, he must not speak on our behalf before the party expresses its views on the matter in the delegates’ conference,†he said.
Ochieno’s remarks follow media reports in which Otunnu said the Democratic Party (DP) should join the IPC and work to defeat the NRM party.
“We desire a strong vibrant DP which is good for democracy. So my prayer is that you take a decision of IPC.
Let’s fight the enemy while each party retains its sovereignty, core values†Otunnu said while addressing the DP delegates conference in Mbale on Saturday.
Ochieno explained that UPC has in the past supported national coalitions but their stand must be first approved by the party leadership.
“Ugandans deserve better roads, railway network, UPE, USE and good infrastructure. We should not settle for a government that only refills potholes on tarmac with sand,†he said.
He was delighted with Norbert Mao’s win as the DP party president but hoped that the party leadership will be reconciled.
Otunnu’s spokesman, Wagonda Muguli, said UPC is bound by the stand of the IPC since the party signed a memorandum.
“We fielded different candidates in the Mbale byelections but we shall implement the additional protocol of the IPC in the general elections of 2011,†Muguli said.
The IPC agreed to field a joint presidential candidate in the 2011 polls. The IPC also includes the Forum for Democratic Change party and the Conservative Party.