{UAH} By dividing up the opposition, we are inadvertently strengthening NRM

After the stolen elections of 2011, opposition groups embarked on serious consultations and debate including on radio munansi and resolved to create an umbrella organization of political parties and organizations at home and abroad to present a common challenge to NRM through common messages and one spokesperson especially at the diplomatic level.

In July 2011 United Democratic Ugandans (UDU) was created in Los Angeles, USA. The committee chaired by Mubiru Musoke was instructed to prepare a National Recovery Plan that was presented and endorsed at the Boston, USA conference in October 2011. Eric Kashambuzi was elected Secretary General at the Los Angeles meeting and mandated to coordinate diplomatic networking, among other functions. The Boston conference additionally mandated the UDU committee to begin civic education as many issues raised in the National Recovery Plan were not well understood.

Both conferences were represented by members of FDC, UPC and DP. FDC was officially represented at both meetings. In subsequent consultations UPC officially agreed to work with UDU. Contacts with DP indicated discussions to formally join UDU were ongoing. Meanwhile DP supporters were encouraged to work closely with UDU. Contacts were also made with UFA and agreed to work together on various matters including federalism.

UDU conducted its work mostly through the English program of radio munansi, Ugandans at Heart Forum and UDU blog www.udugandans.org. The success of these programs led to the convening of The Hague meeting in November 2013 that brought together participants from Uganda and the Diaspora. Given UDU recognized success, the plan was to expand it into The Hague Process (THP) but a decision was taken that participants should do so in their individual capacity.

The Hague conference adopted a non-violent strategy to unseat NRM and form a broad-based transitional government led by a presidential team/council (this idea was first proposed at the Los Angeles conference of 2011). It was also resolved that leadership should rotate to permit flexibility in leadership changes and give participants a chance to demonstrate their leadership qualities. The first chairperson was Mr. Kyeswa Ssebweze and the current one is Dr. Henry Gombya. The chairpersons are working closely with focal points at home and in the Diaspora.

The blue print for The Hague Process for peace, security and development in Uganda was adopted in June. It has been circulated to members with 198 methods to be employed according to local conditions to end NRM regime. The document has been posted on face book.

The UDU with its economic blueprint and the THP with its political blueprint have dovetailed in a political economy framework that is unique in Uganda's current politics, combining economics and politics and Ugandans at home and abroad. This is the result of careful reflection on what Uganda opposition needs to unseat NRM regime. And a new national leadership with experience in domestic and external matters and impeccable record is emerging.

Sadly, instead of building on this solid foundation, other opposition organizations are springing up.

1.     Within a month of The Hague conference, FUF was established in such a hurry as can be seen from its manifesto that it collapsed after six months.

2.     Then out of the blue we heard of FADDU that had agreed to join with FUF which had just collapsed in London.

3.     Some leaders of FADDU/FUF are also leaders of UDU without explaining the relationship.

4.     Then we heard of the Amsterdam meeting prepared in secrecy and a week before the conference it was discovered that the leader was NRM supporter and dismissed abruptly so the meeting addressed by Dr. Kizza Besigye took place under a dark shadow, killing the Amsterdam Consensus immediately. Postings on face book about other members of the Amsterdam group are self-explanatory about their character.

5.     Radio munansi which had developed into a truly national channel of communication with a strong English program made abrupt changes and terminated the English program without explanation, immediately turning a national radio station into a southern regional one. It now caters for those who know Luganda and Lutoro/Lukiga/Lunyankole and Lunyoro languages. As expected the number of listeners has dropped significantly.

6.     What we are seeing is either greedy individuals in the opposition who are being sidelined by the new faces and are resisting by forming new organizations to stay in business or NRM has penetrated the opposition and is dividing it up.  

Ipso facto, we need to review what has happened quickly and take corrective measures. Short of that you can be sure NRM will be around for a long time – however much and long we complain. Some individuals may be benefitting in prestige and possibly in money. But this is happening at the expense of national interests. Uganda and Ugandans must come first. Parochial and individual interests are undermining the interests of the nation and her people. It is these groups that are prolonging NRM in power.

Eric Kashambuzi               

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