{UAH} UDU strengthening collaboration with opposition parties

Press statement

As you know, UDU is an umbrella organization of political parties and organizations at home and abroad that are opposed to the misrule of Uganda by the NRM government.

The idea is to harmonize our views and speak with one voice for maximum efficiency and effectiveness. And this is already happening at the diplomatic level. We have a National Recovery Plan that spells out what would be done immediately a transitional government is formed after unseating the NRM regime which is losing support at home and abroad. Uganda delegation led by President Museveni was invisible in panel discussions at the current General Assembly session unlike in the past. In fact Uganda Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) are becoming more visible as panelists than government representatives.

We have also been engaged in civic education through the mass media such as on Radio Munansi, face book, Ugandans at Heart Forums, www.udugandans.org, www.kashambuzi.com and many other sites. The feedback we are getting is very encouraging.

As I reported a few months ago, I met with Ambassador Olara Otunnu in New York and agreed that UDU and UPC should work more closely than before. Last weekend, we arranged for him to address Ugandans on the English and Luganda programs of radio munansi and the response has been very good.

While he was in New York as part of his tour of North America, I had a conversation with the President of FDC General (retired) Mugisha Muntu. We discussed a wide range of issues affecting our country and the region. Like his predecessor, Col (retired) Dr. Besigye, Mugisha Muntu agreed that FDC will continue to work closely with UDU. FDC has been a very active member since the founding of UDU in July 2011. We shall arrange to have Mugisha Muntu address Ugandans through radio munansi like we have just done for Olara Otunnu.

We are also making contacts with DP officials to have them officially become part of UDU. DP supporters are already very active in the work of UDU.

Consensus is emerging that a transitional government of all Ugandans except those alleged to have committed crimes against humanity is the way forward to prepare for free and fair multi-party elections and possibly a national convention before elections.

The transitional government would be led by a presidential commission of five Ugandans drawn one each from Northern, Eastern, Buganda and Western regions as well as Greater Kampala. This has happened before in Uganda and in other places. In Russia after the death of Stalin, a committee was formed to govern the country until conditions were appropriate to elect the Secretary General of the Communist Party.

UDU is trying to lay a solid foundation in Uganda where everyone in present and future generations will have an opportunity to develop their potential to the fullest extent possible. We call on all Ugandans at home and abroad to join us in this noble endeavor.

Eric Kashambuzi

Secretary General, UDU