Parties lobby Britain to host transition talks
By Badru D. Mulumba
Dec 16, 2003
|
KAMPALA � The opposition wants Britain to host the planned talks on Uganda�s transition to political pluralism. In October, the National Political Commissar, Dr Crispus Kiyonga announced a 25 man government team to talk to the opposition. The opposition welcomed the talks in an October 27 letter. Mr Nsubuga Nsambu (Conservative party), Mr Damiano Lubega (Democratic Party), Mr Kibirige Mayanja (Justice Forum), Mr Chapaa Karuhanga (National Democrats Forum), Mr Sam Njuba (Reform Agenda), Mr Fredrick Juuko (The Free Movement) and Dr James Rwanyarere of the Uganda People�s Congress (UPC) signed the letter. The proposal to have the talks held in London was hatched by opposition members living in exile. The proposal was sold to Njuba during his visit to the UK last week. Njuba is the opposition�s contact person for the talks. Njuba was in London on a visit funded by the British. �No one in the opposition can expect any meaningful negotiation with the Movement if talks take place in Kampala, or anywhere in Africa for that matter,� Mr Sam Akaki, the coordinator of the International Lobby for Reform in Uganda, said by e-mail, last week. Asked why they want the talks outside the country, Akaki cited the aborted Nairobi peace talks of 1986. He said President Yoweri Museveni used to buy time as the rebels closed in on Kampala. Britain, is a member of the Donor, Democracy and Governance Group, that wants parties freed. Njuba�s itinerary from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office indicates that he met Mr Tony Baldry (Conservative MP, Banbury), chairman, International Development Committee in the House of Commons, as well as Mr William Cash (Conservative MP, Stone), chairman of Uganda All Party Group. When contacted yesterday, Njuba who returned on Friday said; �I was due to go for a private visit. I was asked if I wanted to meet government officials. I said, �yes.� The Monitor had earlier been told that senior civil servants at the Foreign Office had said that they would find a way of arranging meetings for opposition officials, if they came to Britain. �However, for political considerations, the British Government would not and could not directly invite Mr Njuba or any other opposition leader, lest they offend the Uganda Government,� an opposition politician said by telephone from London. The official requested not to be named. The Foreign Office also arranged for Njuba to meet officials of the Department for International Development, the Liberal Democratic Party and met Unionist Party Leaders Policy Unit. Appointments were also scheduled for Njuba with the Economist, BBC World Service, and Africa Focus. He also met Valerie Davey (Labour MP, Bristol). �This clearly shows, there is a change of attitude by the British Government towards the opposition,� the official said. Asked about what he talked about, Njuba said: �my message was that the British government must act independently and through the European Union to pressure Museveni not to amend the Constitution, to lift the term limit of the presidency. He also reportedly said that Britain should target its aid outside government.� |
� 2003 The Monitor Publications
BT Yahoo! Broadband - Save �80 when you order online today. Hurry! Offer ends 21st December 2003. The way the internet was meant to be.
