A Story of Factions in Our Opposition
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The Monitor (Kampala)
OPINION
February 5, 2003
Posted to the web February 5, 2003
Henry Ochieng
Kampala
On Monday you had the political pressure group, Reform Agenda (RA) on the back foot with secretary Loius Otika and senior member Reagan Okumu fighting off suggestions there is a split in the organisation. Not an entirely surprising development because by their very nature, political organisations will always lend themselves to internal disagreement every now and then. They disagree on things like what direction should be taken or who to back in an election.
And so there is nothing surprising in the rumoured troubles at the RA on whether one James Musinguzi should be put out to pasture. The word is that certain elements, unhappy with the way he has behaved ever since he surrendered the claim to the Kinkizi West seat to Defence minister Amama Mbabazi. This group, it's said, suspect Musinguzi was accommodated in ways the common man cannot fathom. They are also not happy that the man never handed their memorandum to President Yoweri Museveni when he visited State House not too long ago.
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We wait for the evidence of dubious conduct if any, but while we are in waiting, you cannot crucify a man on mere suspicions and so let us not dwell on Musinguzi's hardships. We shall however, use this situation to wonder at the fix political groups in Uganda, whether the variety that enjoys applying pressure or those that believe winning state power is a nobler undertaking, find themselves in.
Just before the new millennium dawned on us, Cecilia Atim Ogwal (MP Lira municipality) felt the itch, and together with Patrick Mwondha (MP Bukholi), believed the time was ripe to get Dr James Rwanyarare and others off the leadership of the Uganda People's Congress (UPC). Clearly, they had underestimated the spirit of the grey heads at Uganda House. The grey heads enlisted the backing of the old man in Lusaka, Dr Apollo Milton Obote, who does not need introduction here, and the result was that Ogwal and Mwondha have since been left to sing the party's praises from the fringes. They were put out to pasture.
Still at the UPC, you have unapologetic party people like Daniel Omara Atubo (Otuke), Oyam South MP, Ben Wacha and the unpredictable Aggrey Awori, MP Samia Bugwe North not agreeing with the team at Uganda House but not going public with it. Dick Nyai, whose fine rhetoric caught the imagination of the 6th parliament, it would seem, is not sure whether he is in the Reform Agenda or with the congress people. He keeps turning up at functions of either body with equal prominence.
A real quandary we have there.
For the little known Conservative Party (CP), you do not have much to say about them. It's not known if they have a national following or where their party offices are? However, we know that a few years ago their mild-mannered leader, the whiskered Jehoash Mayanja Nkangi was allegedly retired by his secretary general, the maverick Ken Lukyamuzi in cohorts with Nsubuga Nsambu. Ken and friend told the public they were not sure they could trust Jehoash, who was finance minister at the time, anymore.
The man with whiskers refused to go and in the aftermath of that bloodless coup still insisted he is CP's leader. So there you are. Another party with factions presents itself.
Dr Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere is clinging on as president general of the Democratic Party. There are even rumours he dyed his hair so as not to appear too much of a relic of a bygone era. Ssemogerere is under pressure from one Francis Bwengye in alliance with Nwoya county MP Zachary Olum and others.
There is also a younger generation being urged on by the pint-sized Michael Mabbike that wants to throw out the party's founding fathers. Mabbike has the patronage of the colourful Hajji Nasser Ssebaggala.
We cannot say anything for the numbers of DP faithful who have been sorted out by government. This lot is quietly watching the circus of crossing and uncrossing from the comfort of air-conditioned four-wheel-drive monster automobiles - courtesy of the government of Uganda.
In weather like this one wonders if the opposition has a prayer against Museveni's Movement juggernaut in 2006. Because while they have been bickering and squabbling the Movement, even without the goodwill of the people seeks to entrench itself. We have seen how Museveni is quick to "reconcile" internal contradictions like Musinguzi (who insists he is a founder member) and Mbabazi.
Analyze that.
