Reports Leo Odera Omolo
ANXIETY gripped members of the opposition when the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) leader, Olara Otunnu, did not turn up for the nomination of the 2011 joint candidate at Kololo Airstrip yesterday.
The tent for the UPC supporters remained empty as the exercise kicked off at 10:30am, raising fears that Otunnu, who has been advocating for a single opposition candidate, had snubbed the function.
FDC president Dr. Kizza Besigye, Makerere University lecturer Prof. James Kigongo (Conservative Party), Makindye West MP Hussein Kyanjo (Justice Forum) and Makindye East MP Michael Mabikke (Social Democratic Party) were successfully nominated.
The Inter-Party Coalition (IPC) electoral affairs commission leader, Maj. Rubaramira Ruranga, said they had been notified about Otunnu’s absence.
“We received communication that our friends in UPC will not be able to participate in today’s process because they have a court case,” he said.
UPC’s presidential envoy Patrick Mwondha said a warrant of arrest issued by a magistrate in Lira district prevented Otunnu from participation.
Other sources, however, said Otunnu was out of the country.
“The warrant meant that he could be arrested wherever he could be found,” Mwondha said.
He, however, said the Constitutional Court had yesterday issued a temporary order quashing the warrant.
He assured the opposition that UPC was still committed to the IPC.
“We shall work together to fight the dictatorship of this government which had intended to halt us from taking part in this function,” he stated.
On August 3, the Lira Magistrate’s Court issued a warrant of arrest for Otunnu after he failed to appear in court to answer sedition and sectarianism charges.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Party has ruled out joining the coalition.
DP leader Nobert Mao said his party would work closely with IPC to ensure free and fair elections.
He said DP would compare notes with the coalition, especially in identifying candidates for the parliamentary and local council elections.
“If they don’t accept our proposals, we shall field candidates everywhere and tussle it out during the elections,” Mao told a weekly press briefing at City House, Kampala.
He hailed the newly-proposed political parties’ consultative forum that was launched at Hotel Africana yesterday. “We believe this forum, if well used, will highlight some of the concerns of Ugandans,” Mao said.
Former Buganda premier Joseph Ssemwogerere, who was introduced at the nomination centre as an elder, lauded the IPC leaders for subjecting themselves to a democratic process.
He said Uganda needs a change in governance.
“We should all stand up and say no to the cancer of corruption. I call upon Ugandans to shake off fear. We must give Ugandans hope,” Ssemwogerere said.
Besigye said he was still a prisoner “on temporary bail on cases which were tramped up in 2005.”
“This shows why we need to get rid of dictatorship in this country,” Besigye said.
JEEMA’s Kyanjo said he would focus on environmental protection, sound land use and clean leadership.
CP’s Kigongo said his governance would usher in a federal government so that there is equitable sharing of resources.
Mabikke said his party looks at the peaceful transfer of power as the only way to move the country forward.
Ends