UPC MPs boycott national meeting

By Darious Magara    

The Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) Members of Parliament boycotted a one-day national consultative meeting of the party held in Kampala on Monday.

The meeting, which was called by the embattled party president Dr. Olara Otunnu and his new chairman Prof. Edward Kakonge , was mostly attended by party elders and the cabinet.

Only one legislator, Rev Fr. Jansito Ogwal, who doubles as the party’s secretary general, attended out of ten MPs that the party has in the 9th Parliament.

Several speakers who took the floor instead criticized Jimmy Akena and David Pulkol for leading groups that have rebelled against their leader Otunnu.

Akena, the MP for Lira Municipality, is also a son of the late Ugandan president Dr. Milton Obote. He [Akena] contested and lost the party presidency to Otunnu while Ogwal is the MP for Atuke County.

Members of the Uganda People's Congress party,attending a delegates consultative meeting at Christ the King Hall in Kampala on Monday. PHOTO: Wilfred Sanya  

‘Pulkol a traitor’

Silvanus Isiagi, an elder from Bukedea in Teso region said Pulkol was a government mole that President Yoweri Museveni was using to cause the downfall of the party.

He said John Odit and Pulkol, who made the party’s strategic plan, were wrong to have used Otunnu’s signature in making the plan without his authorization.

“…and besides the party gives the president mandate to reshuffle his cabinet. They should not complain but accept the decision that Otunnu took to replace them,” Isiagi said.

Another elder, Dick Nyai from Arua alleged that Akena does not possess an A’ level certificate and having been defeated by Otunnu in the party polls, he should be humble rather than undermine his [Otunnu’s] leadership.

In his address, Otunnu called upon the party members and leaders to be vigilant of infiltrators who he warned are planning to tear apart the party. He advised the members not to be deviated but to fight the ‘principle enemy’ President Museveni and his government.  

Accountability

Kakonge called upon party members to unite and empower the masses to demand that the government delivers.

“We want change in schools, hospitals and the economy. Let’s empower the people to demand social services from the government,” he urged.  However, Otunnu explained that before party members can demand accountability and a transparent central government, UPC ought to be exemplary.

Kakonge said he understands that Pulkol’s group was soliciting for signatures to out Otunnu, but advised the members not to be part of Pulkol’s plans.

Otunnu said Pulkol used “tricks” to win over the support of his former UPC chairman Major Edward Rurangaranga. 

Pulkol was recently sacked from the post of party secretary for information and mobilization while Rurangaranga from the party’s chairmanship along with other leaders who have planned a parallel national leaders meeting in Kampala this week.