{UAH} Reform activists defy NRM boycott
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United front: Opposition politicians at the conference
The seat reserved for the leader of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) was conspicuously vacant even on the second day of the national consultation on electoral reforms.
However, the boycott by the ruling party did little to dull the mood at the convention as all prominent opposition figures and civil society activists gathered to articulate the reform proposals they say Uganda needs before it can hold free and fair elections.
At the start of the conference on Monday, the group of eminent Ugandans who convened the conference preached unity, imploring all in attendance to "shed-off your political party colours and other affiliations and approach this debate as Ugandans who are interested in a better country."
In a speech read by Frances Akello, one of the first post-independence parliamentarians, the eminent persons said: "As a country, we have a lot more to gain through unity than through amplifying the artificial divisions that divide us as a people - along political, religious and tribal lines."
Throughout the conference, opposition figures mingled freely and shared the platform, showing a growing harmony and cohesive sense of purpose that has not been evident in the recent past. Uganda People's Congress (UPC) president, Olara Otunnu, received a standing ovation after a speech in which he explained that the reforms would not deliver Uganda to the Promised Land merely by offering a level playing field that could lead to a change of government.
"Regime change is not an end in itself. It is a means to a greater end which is to rebuild and transform our society," said Otunnu, a former United Nations diplomat.
Three-time presidential candidate, Dr Kizza Besigye, castigated the NRM for what he described as its unwillingness to take part in the discussions on the electoral reforms that would allow free and fair elections. He added that it is not just the leadership of NRM that is culpable, but also individuals within the party such as MPs.
"The MPs that were invited and never responded are a byproduct of the illegalities in the electoral process,î said the FDC founding president. ìThe citizens must take it upon themselves to deliver the change they want."
NRM Invited
Conference organisers said they invited President Museveni to open the convention in order to involve the ruling NRM and its leaders in an event largely spearheaded by civil society leaders.
"All parties that have elected leaders up to LC-III level were invited to send delegates but there has not been a response from NRM. They are not formally here," Bishop Zac Niringiye, the retired Kampala assistant bishop, told The Observer.
However, as the convention opened at 8am on Monday, there was no sign of the UPDF Special Forces Command at Hotel Africana, an early sign that the president was unlikely to turn up.
"Our contacts [in government] kept telling us that he was still considering it [the invitation] until Sunday evening when it died out," said Godber Tumushabe, the head of secretariat of the national consultation on free and fair elections.
On Saturday, the executive director of the Uganda Media Centre and NRM deputy spokesman, Ofwono Opondo, told The Observer, that the ruling party "does not conduct business through civil society organisations."
According to Richard Ssewakiryanga, executive director of the Uganda National NGO Forum, the organisers have since September been making frantic efforts to bring the NRM leaders on board. They spoke to Frank Tumwebaze, the minister of the Presidency, the NRM caucus vice chairman David Bahati, and Government Chief Whip Justine Kasule Lumumba.
Lumumba admitted having been contacted by the conference organisers but said she was not given a timeframe within which they wanted to meet the caucus. Lumumba also says that she was the one who was contacted to deliver Museveni's invitation.
"I last interacted with the president [when] we came back from Rome. It is this [Tuesday] morning that he called and told me that he was travelling to Nakaseke,"she said.
She blamed the organisers for ignoring her advice to deal with the acting NRM secretary general Dorothy Hyuha on NRM's participation.
Key absentee
With the NRM leadership nowhere to be seen at the conference, some delegates questioned the wisdom of conducting the event without the party in the driving seat.
Deborah Nabadda, the Sembabule deputy speaker, said: "We said that this forum is about the future of Uganda, but how can we discuss such a key issue in the absence of some key players?
"On the programme, I see there was time for the president. Why isn't he here?" Nabadda probed. "The other key player is [the Inspector General of Police] Kale Kayihura. I donít see him around, and all the NRM MPs. How sure are we that what we are discussing here will be implemented?"
As the conference enters its third day, those questions will linger in the minds of many even as they prepare the recommendations that they hope to present to the minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Kahinda Otafiire, before the November 30 deadline for submitting electoral reform proposals.
What next?
Organisers hope to present the outcomes of the three-day consultation dialogue to Parliament for consideration, awaiting the government's own proposals. The leader of opposition in Parliament (LOP) Wafula Oguttu said they would be tabled as a private memberís bill if government is not enthusiastic about them.
"We have been clear that this process is not about attacking anybody but building a critical mass of people that understand the critical issues for reform," Ssewakiryanga told The Observer.
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Comments
Besides the election rigging of 1980 by Obote, is this the real deal of why M7 took us to war? Moses K, I'm sure that you are reading this, why are we talking about rebuilding and transforming our society after 30 years since M7 came to power?
How could we still be talking about electoral reforms yet that was the premise why M7 took us to war? What credit does M7 deserve if we are back to where we were 30 years ago?
M7 has rigged each and every election. As Otunnu stated, we still need to rebuild and transform our society, therefore what credit does M7 deserve?
Personally, am not surprised why M7 didn't show up, because he never meant good for the country and doesn't believe in transforming it.
He is just an organized criminal who used elections rigging as a conduit to capture power so that he can enjoy the loot.
In addition the presdo should not participate any more. The rest we will amend as we go along.
Remase, that reality is fast becoming consensus. Most revolutions are followed by civil war. If Museveni resigns, there could still be a peaceful transition to democracy.
Kenya has benefited from this kind of dialogue meeting which brings together the parties, Cultural leaders, religious leaders and senior citizens. What needs to be discussed is beyond elections, its about the future of Uganda where we can have a smooth transfer of power from one individual to another and from one party to another.
If Ugandan still don't understand 'Federal" then the movement system can be called back. While Kenya is not a federal state, it has two parliaments and County (regional) Governments with meaningful power and reasonable resources transfer from the centre to the "Counties' these can be "regions" in case of Uganda.
The Conference should come up drafted constitutional amendments and a copy be given to The President, Chief Justice(after we have got one), chief of Defence forces, IGP and Speaker of Parliament.
The IGP behaves as if he owns the law by just imposing laws on people which are not sanctioned by parliament. In Kenya the law is clear "you don't drink before 4:00pm and bars close at 11:00pm", but all this was passed by parliament not individuals like Kayihura.
Government did not attend this meeting but its hearing and eager to receive the outcomes then it comes out with its own compromise position to carry the day.
The spirit exhibited by opposition political parties should be taken further by all of them forming a coalition which will form a Government of National Unity after 2016. What the opposition lacks now is leadership, all these party leaders are not trusted by the people.
There is need to identify another "YUSUFU LULE" who is non partisan to lead a joint opposition in 2016.
UPC is on record as having brutally turned against its allies in the past - let us not forget this.
Talking to each other is gd and can lead to gd things, you must talk in order to know what the other will say and you must listen in order for you to respond.
So if we can meet and talk about something gd for the Country then let it be, sometime we need to put Party Politics aside for the gd of the Country and sometime we need to agree on things, that are gd for all.
So Never Fear to Negotiate But Never Negotiate out of Fear. Has a Country we have come long way back now its time to be United for a Better Country, by talking and debating in such Reforms.
A United Uganda can fight Corruption, Fight youth Unemployment, Hiv/Aids,Improve Agriculture,Gd hospitals,Reduce population growth that is running out of Control and discuss issues that are for a better Country.If the Reforms are gd for the Country then let it be.
The major aim of the entire convention was for betterment of Uganda obviously which is not among nrm objectives. The truth is .
As we speak Uganda is a nation of isolated individuals not capable of standing together for a cause
In my opnion its important tht all opposition share a single platform b'se it's actions like these tht will and shall bring the general public on board and gain confidence to take necessary steps into the greatness .
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