EALA: NRM treachery throws parties into chaos <http://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18950:e ala-nrm-treachery-throws-parties-into-chaos&catid=34:news&Itemid=114>
News <http://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=34:new s&layout=blog&Itemid=114> Sunday, 27 May 2012 22:30 Written by Emma Mutaizibwa <http://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_mailto&tmpl=component&link=5233 3cbd9d2fde08f841b97f01371cdc5a10b5a5> Description: E-mail <http://www.observer.ug/index.php?view=article&catid=34:news&id=18950:eala-n rm-treachery-throws-parties-into-chaos&tmpl=component&print=1&layout=default &page=&option=com_content&Itemid=114> Description: Print <http://www.observer.ug/index.php?view=article&catid=34:news&id=18950:eala-n rm-treachery-throws-parties-into-chaos&format=pdf&option=com_content&Itemid= 114> Description: PDF The unsavoury political manoeuvrings and Machiavellian treachery orchestrated by the ruling NRM party has thrown the Opposition into a tailspin over the East African Legislative Assembly [EALA] seats. On Wednesday, UPC, DP and CP backtracked from an earlier-on agreed opposition position, by nominating candidates to participate in the electoral process. DP was the first to nominate, fronting its legal adviser Mukasa Mbidde and spokesperson Kenneth Kakande. UPC and CP then followed suit, with Chris Opoka and Susan Nampijja respectively. Earlier, the opposition had sanctioned a boycott after the Ugandan parliament enacted a rule that guarantees the ruling NRM party six of the nine seats EALA has made available to Uganda. The rule left the opposition and independents to share out three seats, something they treated with contempt. Sources told The Observer the latest fall out within the opposition ranks is as a result of a plot hatched by a sly senior politician in the ruling party. Initially, this politician had offered a dangling carrot to the FDC party. In the deal, FDC, the strongest rival to the ruling party, would get two slots and leave the other smaller parties to jostle for only one seat. Its not clear yet whether the FDC rejected the offer or was contemplating to take up the offer. But the same politician had quietly been cavorting with DP, UPC and CP party apparatchiks about striking a deal over the EALA seats. The Opposition had earlier agreed not to participate until an interpretation of Article 50 of the East African Community treaty was properly interpreted. The Article, the opposition argues, requires that each party represented in a national parliament sends at least a representative to EALA, if feasible. It was only last week that the opposition woke up to a dramatic setup, which could only fester suspicion amongst NRMs rivals. Dr Sabiiti Makara, Political Science lecturer at Makerere University, says the ruling partys trickery is reminiscent of the UPC in the 1960s, when President Milton Obote manipulated the political elite. In 1964, Obote dispensed patronage across the DP and Kabaka Yekka parties. The rewards included ministerial positions. For instance, after ditching DP for UPC, Basil Bataringaya was appointed minister of Internal Affairs. NRM is now engaging in the UPC politics of the 1960s. NRM has money, patronage, and inducements to hand to the Opposition, he opines. However, the don says there are charlatans in the opposition working with government. My view is that some people in the opposition are working with government. You remember how the IPC collapsed. This is the precarious situation of the opposition I am talking about. This disharmony could further disorganise a weak opposition that has often failed to coalesce against the ruling party. This is a very bad thing. They have backstabbed us and I think time has come for us to review our relationship with them, said FDC Secretary General Alice Alaso last week. Already, the Leader of Opposition, Nandala Mafabi, wants to pay back the traitors in the same currency. There is a suggestion that the shadow cabinet, which is appointed by Nandala, will now drop DP, UPC and CP officials, if they dont revoke plans to send representation in the regional assembly. It also comes at a time when, apart from the semblance of unity in FDC, many opposition parties are in a limbo. UPC President Olara Otunnu seems besieged by a maelstrom that will only cease when he leaves, and DPs Nobert Mao is battling to keep the cohesion in a party threatened by a breakaway faction. However, some leaders in the opposition have since attempted to paper the cracks. Otunnu has written to the clerk to parliament, requesting that the partys candidate be withdrawn pending further consultations. Yesterday, your office received the nomination paper of Opoka as the UPC nominee. Regrettably, this was the result of miscommunication, as a party leader I take full responsibility for this unfortunate mistake in view of the above I hereby withdrawal the nomination received by your office, Otunnus letter reads in part. DPs parliamentary caucus, through whip Sebuliba Mutumba (Kawempe South), has also distanced itself from the nomination of Mbidde and Kakande. To our dismay as DP MPs, candidates from DP contesting in EALA have been nominated contrary to the agreed opposition position, Sebuliba said in a letter addressed to the clerk and copied to the Speaker. Otunnu and Sebuliba today represent the views of rival factions within the parties of UPC and DP, further eroding the legitimacy of an opposition that has failed to find common ground the 26 years under Musevenis NRM. [email protected] Thé Mulindwas Communication Group "With Yoweri Museveni and Dr. Kiiza Besigye Uganda is in anarchy" Kuungana Mulindwa Mawasiliano Kikundi "Pamoja na Yoweri Museveni na Dk. Kiiza Besigye Uganda ni katika machafuko"
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