From: Matek Opoko [mailto: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [email protected], [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2005 20:32:13 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [Ugnet] Two legged Animals ( called man) never cease to amaze
The two legged animal never ceases to amaze!..Now could it be that a bunch of Hyenas have smelt blood!
MK
39 UPC Leaders Attack Obote
The Monitor (Kampala)
April 21, 2005
Posted to the web April 20, 2005
Charles Mwanguhya Mpagi & Frank Nyakairu
Kampala
In what threatens to turn into a major party revolt, some 39 members of the Uganda People's Congress (UPC) have written to the party President Apollo Milton Obote asking him to disband the newly appointed Constitutional Steering Commission (CSC).
The letter, also endorsed by at least 10 MPs of the UPC Parliamentary Caucus, wants Obote to "allow the party operate in accordance with the party constitution."
The members claim that the appointment of the CSC was unnecessary. Mr Badru Wegulo chairs the CSC.
"The reactions and responses to the appointment of the Constitutional Steering Commission was largely negative," the letter reads in part. "It is an unnecessary improvisation since the party organs have been already restored and should be allowed to function. The creation of the CSC smirks of conspiracy and could easily be divisive," it said.
Obote, who lives in exile in the Zambian capital Lusaka, from where he has run the party affairs for the last 20 years on March 24 announced a major reshuffle in the local party leadership. He disbanded the top party organ, the Presidential Policy Commission led by Dr James Rwanyarare, the National Organising Committee and other party structures replacing them with a single CSC to run the party affairs.
"It is in the best interest of the party to follow the legitimate path that will lead us to the ADC (Annual Delegates Conference)," said the letter adding, "It is therefore advisable to rescind the creation of CSC and its committees."
The decision has sparked off debate as party members are holding parallel meetings.
Rwanyarare is said to be leading the dissenters who want Obote out of leadership.
Rwanyarare said yesterday, "I think he has received the letter but he has not responded yet. Because when it arrived in Lusaka I think he sent it to someone in Canada who was a member of the PPC and tried to distance himself from it. He thought we wrote it as PPC but that list includes party leaders at various levels from MPs to leaders of various committees," Rwanyarare said.
The chairperson of UPC Parliamentary Caucus, Ms Betty Amongi, said she was party to the letter.
She said party members felt that there was need for the party structures to be allowed to operate freely. Amongi said as a young and female party member she felt the appointment of the CSC ignored two key constituencies; the women and youth.
"It was good to let the party president know that it is good to allow the party constitution operate," she said. "The CSC (for example) does not recognize the Parliamentary caucus yet the party constitution recognises it."
On women and youth Amongi said: "Young people and women are represented in the party...For UPC to be a vibrant party of the 21st century you need to seriously look at the young people and the women and the women. They are vibrant, they can mobilise and the have the numbers," she said.
Another MP, Mr Ben Wacha said he did not see the letter before it was sent to Lusaka but "agreed with the content."
The letter further reads, "hitherto party matters have been managed by improvised organs put in place by leaders after consultation with some members of the National Executive Committee.
The compelling reason was we were banned to operate normally by the dictatorship. We agree fully that now that the party is registered as a legal entity, improvisation must stop and we must operate in accordance with the party constitution."
Members party to the letter include, Mr Yonasani Kanyomozi, a member of the East African Legislative Assembly, former Ministers, Maj. Edward Rurangaranga, and Mr Patrick Rubaihayo. Others include Mr Henry Mayega, a former deputy to Rwanyarare in the PPC, MPs Mr Omodi Okot, Mr Alex Okot, Mr Omara Atubo, Ms Cecilia Ogwal, Mr Okullo Epak and Mr Angiro Gutumoi. Others are Mr Odur Anang, Mr Dick Odur, Mr Ocahma Nafutali, Mr Mubiru Mohammed.
Meanwhile, The Monitor has learnt that the party is planning a big meeting of its leaders to try and iron out the differences. The meeting is planned for this Saturday at the party headquarters on Uganda House. Rwanyarare, believed to be leading the dissenters group, said he had not been invited to the meeting.
He however said he was busy canvassing support for a key position of leadership ahead of the party Delegates Conference planned for August.
Amongi said the current divergence of views among party members was not a sign of a split but a healthy development for the party's growth.
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