UPC disowns rival group seeking to oust Otunnu

 By JEFF ANDREW LULE       
      
The Uganda People's Congress (UPC) party has disowned the rival faction saying it has no mandate to call for any meeting of any party organs as they claim.

In reaction to the group's move to call for a Special Delegates Conference to oust the party's president Dr. Olara Otunnu, the party spokesperson, Okello Lucima said the members are not known to them and have no powers to organize any meeting on behalf of the party.

Lucima said only the party president or national chairperson or secretary general on the advice of the president, can call national meetings of the organs of the party, of which the self-styled Sospater Akwenyu is none of them.

He said the alleged meeting is illegal because those who organized it are not known leaders in the party.

"We noted that genuine UPC leaders and members rightly stayed away from what they see externally orchestrated maneuvers to undermine the party leadership," Lucima said in a press statement.

Lucima said party leaders or members with any concerns, know the structures and organs of the party to approach, adding that even those who fell out with the party are free to return through their local and national party leadership.

He said Akwenyu, and Rev. Onesmus Mutahinduka and other unknown 30 members wanted to hold the meeting at Uganda House on Monday but were blocked by the party since the meeting had not been communicated.

Lucima alleged that prior to that, Akwenyu had solicited members through short messages, radio announcements to come for the meeting.

The vice president of the party, Joseph Bbosa said the group should address their concerns through the right channels, saying the party was ready to listen and implement what is implementable.

"We have party organs where members front their complaints. That is just a disgruntled groups who are being used by some people outside the party. But Otunnu is a legitimate elected leader. He was elected by even some of those opposing him. Disagreements are normal and can be solved internally not through the media and fights," he said.

During their meeting at Akili College in Mbuya a Kampala suburb on Monday, the group resolved to call for an urgent Special Delegates Conference to put Otunnu to task for his actions and decide his fate.

The coordinator of the group, Sospater Akwenyu said Otunnu is incompetent. Akwenyu said the meeting was held the meeting in the accordance with the UPC Constitution and made resolutions for the good of the party.

He stressed that the confusion and disharmony characterized in the party threatens the future of the party.

The rift followed the dismissal of Maj Edwrad Rurangaranga (former party national chairperson), late John Odit (former secretary general) and David Pulkol the former secretary for mobilization and policy formulation) from their positions, by Otunnu.