Hearing of case for Otunnu's removal for today

By Moses Mulondo

KAMPALA - The hearing of the case in which UPC MPs want court to remove the party president Olara Otunnu is scheduled to take place today in the High Court.

The case was filed about two weeks ago by two UPC legislators – Oyam South MP Beti Amongi and Kole County MP Fred Ebil.

The basis of their case is hinged on the fact that Otunnu’s term of office ended on March 13 this year and is therefore no longer eligible to undertake any decision as UPC president.

The party’s vice president Joseph Bbosa appealed to the group that took the case to court to withdraw it so that a National Council and Delegates Conference is convened to have a new party president elected.

There is already another case filed by a group of UPC stalwarts led by former party chairman Edward Rurangaranga which put an injunction stopping Otunnu from carrying out any activity on behalf of the party.

‘Best to have talks’

Rurangaranga filed the case to stop UPC grassroots’ elections which had not been sanctioned by the party’s National Council.

Bbosa told New Vision that he had received information that both cases would be combined in today’s hearing.

Meanwhile, he revealed that a committee of party elders headed by the chairman for the Milton Obote Foundation (MOF) board of governors, Ignatius Balungi, has been constituted to mediate talks between the warring groups.

“The injunction stopped us from carrying out any party activity. Court cases can take long to be finalized. The best way for us is to have talks so that the cases are withdrawn and we convene a National Council and Delegates Conference to elect a new party president,” he explained.

‘Irregular grassroots elections’
 

Lira municipality MP Jimmy Akena

Lira municipality MP Jimmy Akena dismissed Bbosa’s argument on why they cannot convene a National Council and Delegates Conference.

“Those at the party headquarters are not truthful. The injunction only prohibits party activities which have not been sanctioned by the National Council. Let them convene the National Council and everything will be sorted out,” he said.

The son of UPC’s founding president Milton Obote said he has for the last four years urged the party leadership to convene a National Council meeting but they have not done so.

“The injunction only came later when they were carrying out irregular grassroots elections which had not been sanctioned by the National Council as the constitution requires,” he explained.

In a recent press conference, Otunnu announced that he would not seek to be re-elected for another term of office.

Towards the end of 2011, he sacked eight top party leaders within in a period of one month. They are Edward Rurangaranga (national chairman), John Odit (secretary general), David Pukol (secretary policy and national mobilization), Moses Nuwagaba (spokesperson) and Robert Kanusu (press secretary).

Others include Emmanuel Rukundo (national vice chairperson), Ndiwa Ndikora (vice chairperson for South West region) and Cecilia Anyakot who resigned her post as the national youth leader.

Since then, Otunnu’s leadership has faced opposition from various party stakeholders including Milton Obote Foundation (MOF) governors and all the UPC MPs, save for Rev. Jacinta Ogwal whom Otunnu appointed to replace Odit as the part secretary general.

Those who have expressed interest to succeed Otunnu include Akena and David Pulkol.

Meanwhile, last week UPC leaders in Lango sub-region resolved to ban three of their members of parliament, including Akena, from being party flag bearers in any elective capacity.

They accused Akena (Lira Municipality), Amongi (Oyam South) and Ebil (Kole) of throwing the party into confusion by imposing court injunctions and putting a halt on party activities.

Addressing the press in Lira town, the seven-member committee selected by the Lango sub-region UPC leadership resolved that the three party members should be banned from carrying the party flag in any elective position in the forthcoming elections until 2021 when they have reformed, and have apologized to the party members.