Opposition parties lack vision, says Matembe

By Jeff Andrew Lule

MAKERERE, Kampala - Former minister for ethics and integrity, Miria Matembe has lashed at opposition political parties, saying they all have selfish interests without any vision for the country.

In her key note presentation on ethics and value-based leadership at the Interparty University Female Youth Leaders Inspiration Seminar at Makerere University, the ex-minister stressed that many of the parties were just scrambling for power without a clear agenda for Ugandans.

“Many of them have no structures and it is one reason they continue vanishing and losing elections,” she said.

And going on further: “That is why many people are running to NRM and FDC which seem to be a bit organized. How do you expect people to support a party without a vision and mission?”

She also wondered why some parties like Democratic Party (DP) and Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) which claim to have majority support as traditional parties have failed to win majority of the seats at the lower level.

The outspoken Matembe said parties are just interested in using women in mobilization but ignore them in decision-making positions.

She called on the female youth in various parties to organize themselves and get rid of the “greedy leaders”.

“These opposition parties complain of NRM for having failed to deliver, but what have they done since the multiparty system was re-introduced?

“We must thank the NRM for having opened a platform for women and they are vibrant. But up to now women are still crying for being sidelined in different parties,” she underlined.

Her only problem with the ruling NRM party, she revealed, was its doing away with presidential term limits and nothing else.

The move to remove term limits has been hit with plenty of criticism, with many opponents arguing that any true democracy needs limitation to the number of presidential terms. And that short of that, such a nation ceases to be one of democratic significance.

She stressed that all leaders need to emulate Jesus Christ as their role model.

“He [Jesus Christ] left a legacy of good leadership and integrity. He was selfless, with a clear vision and mission, and died for it. He knew the weaknesses of his disciples and always forgave them. Our leaders must learn to live in harmony with their opponents of different ideologies,” she noted.

At the meet, former East African Assembly legislator, Sheila Kawamara said many women still lack confidence, self-esteem and skills to challenge and confront existing power structures and power holders of their parties.