Movement Decides On Parties March 25
The Monitor (Kampala)
February 25, 2003
Posted to the web February 25, 2003
Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda
Kampala
The top Movement organs convene next month to debate and take a decision on the possible return to multiparty politics.
The Movement National Conference will also choose new leaders.
President Yoweri Museveni's term as Movement chairman and that of Mr Moses Kigongo as vice chairman expire mid this year.
"This is to give notice to all members of the National Executive Committee of the National Conference of the meeting of the 7th National Executive Committee to take place on 25-28 March 2003 at
the National Leadership Institute, Kyankwanzi," reads Museveni's instrument.
Museveni signed the instrument summoning the meeting on 20 February.
The Movement Act provides for at least two NEC meetings every year but none was convened in 2002.
The National Executive Committee (NEC) would convene first to receive a report on the calls to free political parties from an ad hoc committee set up in December 2001, during a retreat at Kyankwanzi.
This followed open calls from ministers Bidandi Ssali, Eriya Kategaya and James Wapakhabulo that it is time to free the political space.
National Political Commissar Dr Crispus Kiyonga was appointed to head the committee, of which Mr Bidandi and Mr Kategaya are members.
Others include Attorney General Francis Ayume, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Felix Okot, Minister of State for High Education Betty Akech and Maj. Roland Kakooza Mutale. The committee was given four months to compile its report. It would then present it to Mr Museveni for onward presentation to the NEC. Committee members thought it would be appropriate to compile their report after discussions with Mr Museveni but the president didn't find time to meet them in 2002.
The president this year found time and has since reportedly met the committee at least three times.
Sources close to the committee said that a final meeting would be convened to adopt the report, which would again be officially presented to Mr Museveni.
Museveni would then present the report to the NEC.
NEC members would debate it and if adopted recommend it to the National Conference.
According to the instruments Mr Museveni signed, the Movement National Conference would convene in Kampala between March 29-31.
Mr Kiyonga issued a press release yesterday announcing that the Movement Secretariat has started sending out the necessary documents to Movement cadres.
Presentation of the ad hoc committee report is item number 6 on the NEC agenda.
Mr Museveni will also deliver a keynote address to both the NEC and National Conference.
