UPC warns leaders against participating in delegates' conference

POLITICS

The ‘mainstream' Uganda People's Congress (UPC) has warned their district leadership to desist from participating in the upcoming delegates' conference.

Speaking during the weekly press briefing held at the party headquarters in Kampala, head of media and Communication Faizo Muzeyi asked their members to shift their focus to the ongoing campaigns and canvas votes for all the candidates contesting under the UPC ticket.

"The party leadership wants to sound a warning to all the regional vice chairpersons, district chairpersons, branch leaders, and general members that there is no delegates' conference on December 4 as it was making rounds in the public domain," he said

The warning comes at a time when another UPC faction is organising a delegate's conference this Friday in which they expect to elect the party leadership.

He added "we appeal to the party members to ignore such reckless and irresponsible statements and focus their attention on ongoing campaigns and mobilisation for the party,"

Muzeyi further stated that "the self-seekers who masquerade to represent the party, should totally be ignored and we remain focused,"

Ben Kigongo Bakkabulindi, assistant secretary-general, UPC said the legitimate party leadership is in place and fully in control of all party matters.

"I would like to warn all those behind this propaganda to stand warned, fail to do so; it will be inversely proportioned to their actions," he warned.

Background

Last month, the UPC's faction announced that they will be convening the district and delegates' conference on November 28, which was later pushed to December 4 this month.

Speaking during a press briefing held at Mabirizi complex in Kampala, Tom Omino, the UPC's faction envoy for communication and mobilization said the district and delegates' conferences and delegates shall  be convened in accordance with article 11.2(6) and 13.2(5) of the party constitution respectively.

"We shall be holding the delegates conference following the directions of the court of appeal as stipulated in the judgment of justice Elizabeth Musoke, Irene Mulyagonja and Christopher Madrama delivered on the September 7, 2020 and this shall not be in isolation of the party constitution," he said

Omino further said the faction's party electoral commission chaired by Hamza Ssewankambo has been compiling and cleaning the party register, and that the exercise has been concluded in accordance with democratic transparency and the party will publish the delegates register.

"This will enable the four intending party presidential candidates to speak to the actual delegates thus eliminating the overlapping issue of ghost delegates," he alluded.

At least four members; Peter Walubiri, Dickson Opul, Dan Okello, and Joseph Otieno Opintek have  expressed interest in UPC's top office to replace Akena.

Omino also stated that both meetings of the organs of the party shall be organized with due regard to the COVID-19 standard operations procedures issued by the Ministry of health. Social distance and wearing of face masks shall be mandatory to all delegates.