{UAH} Response to NEKYON: NRM Sponsorship of UNAA

Moses,

again, the issue is not how much money we get  from politicians or if politicians attach strings. What matters is the fact that we get that money. 

As for promoting the sponsors, I refer you to Brian's email below.  You'll see the perks for Platinum level.  He explained what sponsors get (NRM govt is supposedly a Platinum Sponsor) and added that the NRM govt "is treated like any other sponsor".

When did I become a member of DP?  Where do I say that people that support Ugandan political parties should not run for office? 

As for Byanyima, please see my comments from June 23, 2013:

Likewise, I do not think that Ms Byanyima should be a main speaker at the convention. Of course I do not know either politician and I have no problem with any politicians  coming to the convention as long as they are not main speakers.Both politicians should be invited to address the political forums rather than the main gatherings. 

Not everyone goes to the forums (e.g Mr Kamugisha has pointed out that when he sees me at conventions, I spend time in the lobby or at the bar...that's because I mainly go conventions to meet my friends and to make new ones and you can't easily to either f those in a forum because you've to listen to politicians!).  People that go the political forums enjoy political talk and want to hear the competing views of the politicians.  

However, everyone comes to the main meals. Everyone that pays for the convention pays for that meal.  In other words, unlike audiences at the political forums, people at the meals are captive audiences because they have to be there...they paid for the meal! We should therefore avoid subjecting them to politician's speeches. 

Worse, if you invite Mr Karuhanga and Ms Byanyima this year, fairness would require that you invite members of other political parties to speak in subsequent years. Assuming that every political party in Uganda and the US/Canada has a supporter in UNAA, are we ready to offer a main speaking slot to representatives of all political parties???  Which political parties will speak for free and which one will have to "donate"?  

thanks

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From: Moses Ocen Nekyon <unaa@memberclicks-mail.net>
To: joseph.musoke@ymail.com
Sent: Tuesday, June 3, 2014 7:36 AM
Subject: UNAALIST [UNAANET] Response to Gaburungyi: NRM Sponsorship of UNAA

Joseph;

I am having a head scratching moment in your response or the lack of.  

Please tell us when and where UNAA‎;

1) promoted NRM as a party?

2) I will ask again; please tell us what the 'strings attached' are. I do not like dealing in rumours;

3) If we are in agreement that some of UNAA's members are members of different parties, why would should it be a problem ‎that some of Uganda's best talent like Winnie Byanyima, would be invited to speak before it's members?

Please reread UNAA preamble.

 You yourself are a member of DP, which based on your criteria should disqualify you from running for UNAA's national office.

4) I repeat; please show us when and where UNAA ever promoted NRM as a party?

5) As for corruption in UNAA you have shown you do not have the guts to fight it.

Ocen

Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.

From: Joseph Musoke joseph.musoke@... [UNAANET] Sent: Tuesday, June 3, 2014 12:53 To: ugandans-at-heart@...; unaanet@yahoogroups.com; unaalist@...; views@... Reply To: UNAANET@yahoogroups.com Subject: [UNAANET] Response to NEKYON: NRM Sponsorship of UNAA

Moses,

I am glad you mentioned that I have been questioning the NRM govt money since 2007...so I did not just pick it up when I run for office.  Besides, if you look down at the emails that you attached, you'll notice that several other people were discussing this matter before I got time to jump in (Brian, Nyende, Lwanga, Kalanzi, Kamugisha, Kabonero, Senkayi,Senkindu, Becky, etc)

1. you said that I am picking one factor to explain dwindling convention attendance: please read my email carefully. I did mention other factors like corruption, constant infighting and high convention charges.

2. you said that I mentioned stings attached: I have talked about possible "strings attached" in private conversations with you but I have written about them. My focus is on the perception problem.  It is like the NAACP taking money from Donald Sterling...it doesn't mean that the NAACP approves or is indifferent to racist racism...but it creates perception problems for them. That is why they returned his money.

3. numbers: It is Tim that bragged about the numbers...not me. 

4. UNAA is diverse: I totally agree with you. Since we have diverse political views, we should keep away from things that divide us e.g donations from Ugandan political groups and promoting the NRM at conventions. I have said it so many times: I am opposed to ALL political sponsorship. You may want to recall that I was vehemently opposed to BOTH Winnie Byanyima and Elly Karuhanga being keynote speakers.

 5. existence of NRM pals: you are right. I have many NRM friends. That shows that I am not opposed to anyone supporting the NRM. Members' political affiliations are non of my business. I only object to actions that can tear UNAA apart e.g promoting a political party at a convention in return for sponsorship.

6. not saying why some of the NRM govt donation doesn't reach UNAA: you are right. I only write about the little I know. As you are aware (I sent you the 2006-2010 UNAA tax returns), UNAA leaders have been hiding that info. Even the tax returns don't show WHO takes that money. For all the time Brenda was treasurer, she never responded to my emails asking for details. Then Ms Nairuba explained that that info is not included in financials because we all know how much it is!  

Qn: what did YOU do to find out the details? I am not aware of any other member asking Ms Nairuba or Brenda to explain themselves!

thanks

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