{UAH} Obote’s other son joins race for presidential bid - National
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Obote's other son joins race for presidential bid - National
LIRA. As the bid for Ugandan presidency gains momentum, the eldest son of former president Apollo Milton Obote is the latest person to declare his interest to join the race for the 2016 elections.
Bishop Edward Stanley Engena- Maitum, who currently lives abroad, confirmed he has joined the race but declined to reveal which party he intends to use as a platform.
"Uganda, will you accept my hand for presidency?" asked Bishop Engena in a statement issued on July 11 as he declared interest to run against President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in 2016 poll.
"My deceased father was a JUMBO ELEPHANT whose footprints are all over the continent of Africa in the liberties and dignities of Africans. He was a giant who paid the price for the principles he believed in; an astute man, father and leader whose intelligence and vision was far ahead of his time,"he said.
This development comes at a time when Bishop Engena's brother Jimmy Akena, who is also the MP for Lira Municipality, is under fire from his critics for taking over the UPC party presidency.
When contacted on phone on Monday, the bishop declined to say what he intends to do for Ugandans.
In the statement however, he said: "Tentatively, I will share my burden and vision for this nation at a congress on a date and at a venue in Kampala that will be communicated on various media forums soon," adding that critics will not pull back his presidential ambitions.
"In football they are three personalities at play: spectators screaming and shouting yet scoring no goals; referees giving orders and threats yet winning no medals and players who score goals and win cups.It is incumbent upon us, the new generation, to seize the moment and arise!" he added.
When contacted about his brother's decision and whether he intends to offer him any support, Mr Akena said Bishop Engena is free to aspire for any political position.
"Everybody is free to aspire for any political post in Uganda. For me, I have a big task of ensuring that the party I lead meets the objectives for which it was formed," he said.
When asked whether his party intends to front a candidate for the 2016 presidential race, Mr Akena responded saying the decision will be made at the National Council, "taking into account the Democratic Alliance and the political terrain."
Bishop Engena's journey- growing up and schooling was scattered across East Africa due to political reasons. He lived through two phases of exile for a period of 30 years in Tanzania & Kenya respectively.
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