Matek Opoko <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
I�m ready to take on Museveni - Kategaya By Solomon Muyita & Mwanguhya Chales Mpagi KAMPALA � Former Foreign Affairs Minister Mr Eriya Kategaya said yesterday he was ready to challenge President Yoweri Museveni in next year's presidential elections if the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) nominates him.
READY: Mr Kategaya during the talk show
yesterday (Photo by Wandera w'Ouma).But Mr Kategaya also warned that the country would see a repeat of the crisis that followed Milton Obote's abrogation of the independence Constitution if the current "manipulation" to amend the 1995 Constitution continues.
"I am not afraid to stand against Museveni," Kategaya said while appearing on Kfm's Sunday Straight to the Point talk show hosted by Desree Barlow.
Responding to a question on whether he was a potential candidate against Museveni in next year's presidential election, Kategaya said he would stand if called upon."If there is an organisation that says, 'come and lead us,' I will," Kategaya said. "The question of fearing Museveni, that one you should forget."
Kategaya, also the former First Deputy Prime Minister, fell out with Museveni in 2003 after the president and his cabinet pushed a proposal to amend the Constitution and lift presidential term limits.
He was sacked from Cabinet in May 2003, a purge that also saw the exit of anti-third term ministers Mr Jaberi Bidandi Ssali, Ms Miria Matembe and Ms Sarah Kiyingi.Kategaya, who is now one of FDC's envoys, has since maintained that the no-term limits campaign was meant to pave the way for a third Museveni presidency under the new Constitution.
The man who was for long widely considered Museveni's number two criticised the president for seeking to shift goal posts by manipulating the Constitution with a desire to stay in power.
He said Museveni should not keep the country speculating about his intentions. Such speculation could lead to unrest, Kategaya added.
"If President Museveni came out clearly and said for reasons ABC I would like to go back on my word, that would be no problem," Kategaya said. "I think we would have a meaningful debate. But now there is no meaningful debate."Museveni said in his 2001 campaign manifesto that he was standing for his last term in office, having ruled from 1986. According to the Constitution the President can serve only two five-year terms in office, a provision the government opposes now.
Museveni has not stated unequivocally that he will contest next year's elections, although it is widely believed that he will, if presidential term limits are lifted.
Kategaya said the current manipulation of Parliament to endorse constitutional amendments, especially the clause to delete presidential term limits, was similar to that of Milton Obote who used Parliament to entrench himself in power. "I think we shall have a similar situation like we had in 1966," Kategaya said.
Kategaya said the proposal to amend Article 105(2) of the Constitution to lift the presidential term limits was originally not one of the issues for constitutional review. "I am reliably informed that this is an import by this government to enable Museveni to stand," he said.
Kategaya criticised the NRM's idolisation of Museveni.
"You cannot tie the destiny of the country on an individual," he said.
Saying Uganda had not been able to witness a peaceful transfer of power, Kategaya urged Museveni to give the country that chance.
I do not believe in rebellion, but "the stability of the country is in doubt if things continue this way," Kategaya warned.
Former minister Bidandi also warned recently that he foresaw unrest if the campaign to lift presidential term limits succeeded.
"I don't think it will be sustainable," he said. "It may be on for one or two years but I am seeing demonstrations, people being thrown in prison and newspapers being closed," Bidandi said on Kfm's Tonight with Andrew Mwenda.
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Small Business - Try our new resources site! _______________________________________________
Ugandanet mailing list
[email protected]
http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/ugandanet
% UGANDANET is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Small Business - Try our new resources site!
_______________________________________________ Ugandanet mailing list [email protected] http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/ugandanet % UGANDANET is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/
