Opposition parties in alliance talks

BY MOSES MULONDO

Six opposition parties have embarked on the journey of undertaking several measures to result into an opposition alliance for fielding joint candidates at all levels in the 2016 general elections.  

The parties, which held their first meeting on Saturday at Uganda House, include the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), the Democratic Party (DP), the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), the Conservative Party (CP), the Justice Forum (JEEMA) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

The Jinja Municipality mayor and DP chairman Baswale Kezaala who represented DP in the meeting said they had instituted a working committee headed by SDP President Michael Mabikke to carry out research and present a paper on why in the past opposition alliances have failed and the necessary undertakings to make a new alliance work.

The opposition leaders behind these new alliance efforts continued to distance themselves from the activities by A4C (Activists for Change) which metamorphosed into "For God and My Country" (4GC) whose figure head is former FDC president Kizza Besigye.

It is believed by these leaders of the opposition parties, that Besigye, who has stood for presidency and trounced thrice wants to use 4GC activities to remain the relevant as a viable contender for the opposition to front for presidency again in 2016.

"Alliances have failed in the past because they were spearheaded by individuals and not parties. This time we want principled alliances," Kezaala said.

He said their next inter-party meeting would be held on May 23, 2013 during which the committee headed by Mabikke would produce its report for debate.

The next meeting is also expected to draw a minimum program for the six parties to start cooperating on various joint activities as they move towards realizing a joint electoral platform.

Speaking about the alliance, the DP president Norbert Mao such alliance would help them "sort out political activists who are operating outside their party structures".

"Those outside the leadership of parties are jumping into stormy waters. Be careful about them because you never know what is in the waters. We don't want mobs. We want organized party activities," Mao argued in a statement perceived to have been an onslaught on 4GC activists.

 Majority of the 4GC leaders constitute DP stalwarts like the Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, Masaka municipality MP Mathias Mpuuga and Butambala MP Muwanga Kivumbi among others who, considering it unconstitutional boycotted the 2010 Mbale Delegates Conference which voted Mao as DP president. The two camps have since had political disagreements.