| KAMPALA
THE government has predicted problems if Ugandans overwhelmingly voted "NO" in the forth-coming referendum.
They are confident that Ugandans have been convinced enough to vote YES to allow the country adopt the multiparty system to avoid the problems.
But the opposition contends that whether Ugandans say NO" or YES" in the referendum, it would not affect the existing registered political parties.
On Thursday , Ugandans will vote either to allow a return to multiparty politics or retain the Movement, the ruling system.
The set question is ; "Do you agree to open up the political space so that those who wish to join different parties ,organisations do so to compete for political power?"
The symbols are a tree for those who will vote YES" and a house for the NO" side.
Museveni is spearheading the campaign for a YES vote which if accepted shall pave the way for a multi party system of governance.
President Museveni assured donors that t
he
country was heading for a multi party system. Parties have opened up branches and are busy recruiting new members into their parties.
Nsibambi pleads
The Prime Minister Prof. Apollo Nsibambi and State Minister for Information Dr. Nsaba Buturo told Daily Monitor on phone yesterday that if the Movement system is retained in the NO' vote, the result would not help the country.
We want those who are disgruntled to go and we clear our Movement. Though the decision to decide the political future of this country should be internally decided by Ugandans, as a political scientist, I personally plead to Ugandans to vote "YES" so that we can satisfy our donors who have opened for us markets," Nsibambi said.
He, however, said, "With the intensive campaigns by all Ministers, MPs, Movement leaders spearheaded by President Museveni, Ugandans who believe in this government will vote "YES." "
![]() |
| CONFUSING: FDC Acting Chairperson Salaamu Musumba with the partys Coordinator in Canada, Dr Muniini K Mulera (R) at a weekly press briefing at Najjanankumbi where they said the referendum question was partisan. The party is boycotting the exercise. Photo by Willy Tamale. |
Nsibambi said a YES vote would be good for the East African federation.
"Our neighbours Kenya and Tanzania are already operating under multiparty system.
So we might find problems to be facilitated under the federation.," he said.
Asked what government plans to do if Ugandans refused to comply with the government position to free political parties, Nsibambi said the Movement system would remain but parties would be allowed to operate.
"We have no right to remove them because the Constitution allows their existence. But they will be regulated under Article 73 of the Constitution," he said.
Buturo said the government foresees a problem if Ugandans don't allow the country to move together as a nation under multiparty system.
"Government sees a big problem with a "NO" vote because we feel that the 30 percent of the population who are not happy should be given the opportunity to belong where they want for the development of this country. We c
an
transform this country successfully only when we are together with the rest of the population," he said.
He said the problem of the opposition members who damage the country before donors would remain if Ugandans say "NO" in the referendum.
But he said if Ugandans say no, there would be no option but to retain the Movement system.
The Interim Chairperson of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Ms Salaamu Musumba said the referendum is a sham because its outcome would not allow the existence of parties.
"We are around and we shall remain around whether Ugandans say "YES" or "NO". The referendum that has turned President Museveni into a rally driver throughout the country is a waste of time and money. He is taking lies around that he wants to allow us go. Go where," she asked.
Prof. Morris Latigo said the outcome of the referendum has nothing to do with the existence of parties because the law that allows party operation is already
in
place.
But the Senior Presidential Advisor on the Media, Mr John Nagenda, was optimistic that the people would see the "yes" vote through.
"There is no possibility of them voting NO. For sure they will vote YES since the leaders of the Movement government who are advising them to vote YES are disciplined," he said.
The Director of Information at the Movement Secretariat and NRM spokesman Mr Ofwono Opondo said Uganda would not collapse just because people have opposed a return to multipartyism. | 
