{UAH} Prof. Omara Otunnu

As you know, you and I had a very long conversation followed by a short one on how to join forces to liberate our country and her people.  Somewhere along the way we lost contact because further consultations on your part were necessary before taking a definitive position.  I never heard from you.

On more than three occasions I tried to reach David Sejusa directly and indirectly but failed. But he managed through The London Evening Post to express his opinion about me and how hierarchically we were related.  When his mother-in-law passed on I sent a message of condolences directly to David. He acknowledged receipt of my message through someone else, probably sending a message of non-cooperation. The question to ask: why was I contacted when Sejusa didn't want to work with me?

Today's announcement of the rupture between the two organizations that created FUF to liberate our country took me by surprise, albeit the formation of a coalition of military groups with Sejusa as chairperson signaled something on the way: it didn't sound proper that Sejusa could be chairperson of a civilian group and chairperson of a military group. One had to go. Sejusa seems to be forming groups with strange bed fellows.

For me this is a moment we should reflect on, draw some lessons so it doesn't happen again.  Therefore we should not put a negative spin on this development.  The lesson I have drawn from this rupture is that forging coalitions in a hurry usually last a short time and sometimes catastrophically.

The UPC/KY alliance was forged in a hurry by two groups that were ideologically different for the sole purpose of blocking DP.

Obote and Ibingira rushed into an alliance within UPC for the sole purpose of blocking Kakonge when their backgrounds and philosophies were different. The Moshi conference of 1979 brought together Ugandans in the diaspora many of whom could not even greet one another. All they wanted was to get juicy jobs after Amin had left. And when that was done there was nothing in common and a civil war erupted and in the confusion Obote sneaked in and got elected. Okello and Museveni struck a deal for the sole purpose of ousting Obote 2 government when Museveni had no plans of sharing power under Okello. 

It appears to me that your organization and Sejusa's came together in a hurry to stop some other group although I have no clue what group you were targeting. Be that as it may, the lesson is that when you come together from different backgrounds for the sole purpose of solving a common problem relations fall apart once the problem is solved. That is why revolutions that occur relatively peacefully are followed by civil wars in many situations.

What is surprising about FUF is that it collapsed before NRM regime was forced or negotiated out of power. We would be grateful if you could shed some light on the specific circumstances. Also we wonder why you went public. Why didn't you let FUF vanish silently?

Two last things: what is your relationship to FADDU? There are stories that Sejusa has shares in FADDU. If that is the case we shall find out. Sejusa reported that he asked you to stay on with him for some special assignment. Kindly elaborate.

Eric

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