{UAH} Dr. Okullo Apak - SUPER OPPOSITION IN UGANDA!

Akim,

Do you remember Dr. Okullo Epak (may his soul rest in eternal peace)a genius from Loro Apac - how could a country know very little about its people?

He was Langi and that is what we knew about him - and NOT what that single soul could for a nation before he change geoegraphy!

Let us be serious. Now you want cool headed people like Mao to be permanently sidelined. You exactly know which club the Moshi, Nairobi peace jokes belonged to. which club will that be then?

We need charisma with sense of purpose, which even the mighty UPC has trumped upon. Cry very much for beloved Africa - let us go federal and start all over again.

Bwanika

On Wed, Apr 9, 2014 at 12:55 PM, akim odong <akimodong@gmail.com> wrote:

Bwanika;

Its possible. Do not forget how the former of UPC. Somebody like you said it was impossible, but happened. It also happened at the Moshi in 1979 talk and we ended up with the unlikely character of Lule. So don't be dismissive, this after all is politics we are at not some mambo jambo.

Akim

On Wed, Apr 9, 2014 at 8:01 AM, Dan Bwanika <bulemezi@gmail.com> wrote:

 What a big joke - CP, the SDP and who else to come together

B

On Wednesday, April 9, 2014 7:45:37 AM UTC+2, akim odong wrote:

The Uganda opposition should create an umbrella organisation NOW should they want to bring change in Uganda. This body will encompass all the political parties in Uganda and other interest groups to run against the NRM. 

Time is running out fast and as the main opposition parties go round the country asking for a electoral reform, they should kill two birds with one stone. On one hand they should agitate for a electoral reform and on the other inform people of the new amalgam that will run against the NRM. This should be done at the earliest opportune to enable the voters build confidence in the new body. I would suggest that the leader of this new organisation should not be any of the party presidents but an independent person with no tangible link to any of the opposition parties. It will be difficult to find such a person in Uganda considering that if its not the party that may sway people off but the tribe might do just that. Perhaps a clergy from any tribe could be a worthy choice.

Let us learn from the Nigerians who have not wasted time to set up such a body in time for 2015. 

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Nigeria's opposition

A united front

Aug 2nd 2013, 15:11 by G.P. | ABUJA

NIGERIA’S ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) faces its biggest threat in 14 years, after a newly formed opposition coalition was given the green light to contest a presidential election due in 2015. On July 31st the electoral authority approved the merger of the three leading opposition parties—the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the All Nigeria People's Party and the Congress of Progressive Change (CPC). The All Progressive Congress, as the new mega-party is known, will face a weakened PDP, which has held power since Nigeria’s return to civilian rule in 1999.

The merger is the most committed effort to date by the opposition to form a united front. In theory, power is within reach. Goodluck Jonathan, the president, has inspired little confidence since taking the reins in 2010. He has struggled to contain an Islamist insurgency in the north and oil theft is at an all-time high: $10.9 billion has been lost to oil pilfering in two years, with senior government officials rumoured to be involved. Mr Jonathan also has problems within his party, which has shown signs of stress in recent months. In-party squabbling indicates that some in the PDP do not want the president to run again in 2015.

The PDP does have money on its side, having courted the attention of Nigeria’s wealthiest businessmen. However, the opposition coalition seems to be better financed and organised than any previous challenger. It has some political heavyweights, including General Muhammadu Buhari, representing the CPC, who ran for president in 2003, 2007 and 2011 and led Nigeria under military rule between 1983 and 1985. Another supporter is Bola Tinubu, a legendary former governor of Lagos state, who represents the ACN.

Previous attempts to rally the opposition against the PDP have failed amid infighting and the competing ambitions of party leaders. The success of the new coalition will depend on its big personalities being able to put their egos aside and carefully choose a presidential candidate.

The ACN, a Yoruba-majority party with roots in the south-west, and the northern, Muslim-dominated CPC may seem like unlikely bedfellows, but they may be able to choose a candidate with broad national appeal, something which has eluded opposition parties in the past. Some believe they may put forward a northern Muslim, with a Christian running mate from the oil-producing south. That would appease northern governors who believe that Mr Jonathan broke an unwritten agreement to rotate power between the largely Muslim north and Christian south when he ran for president in 2011.

If the opposition can stand strong and rally enough support in areas where the ruling party is losing strength, tempting wavering PDP governors to jump ship, it could be a hotly contested election. There are concerns that a close race will spark violence, especially in areas where every vote counts. Election violence in 2011 saw more than 500 people killed in the north after protests broke out following Mr Jonathan’s victory.

A strong opposition is exactly what Nigeria needs to move its democracy forward. The new mega-party still needs to come up with a more persuasive message to voters: it currently offers familiar faces repeating well-worn lines about bringing corruption and insecurity to an end and creating jobs. If the coalition breaks up, Mr Jonathan may ease to victory. Nonetheless, as long as the opposition is united, the PDP will at last face a run for its money.

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Bwanika Nakyesawa Luwero