{UAH} Allan/Pojim/WBK: Some task force members disown Mbabazi - National
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Some task force members disown Mbabazi
Kampala- A day after the Go Forward coalition unveiled a new campaign task force, three MPs, a former minister and a retired bishop picked by the former premier as part of the team say they were not consulted and therefore have nothing to do with it.
Retired Church of Uganda Bishop of Soroti Diocese, Charles Bernard Obaikol-Ebitu called an impromptu press conference in Soroti and demanded an apology from Mr Mbabazi and Go Forward for involving him in "partisan politics" and using his name without consent.
"I need an apology, I am a man of God and we have church laws whereby we are non-partisan. I shouldn't be belittled to support one political party. As clergy, we speak for many Christians, people in churches and preach the word of peace but not partisan politics," Bishop Obaikol said.
Mr Kassiano Wadri (FDC, Terego) reacted to the news about his appointment on the task force with consternation, accusing the Mbabazi team of duplicity and praising the Forum for Democratic Change candidate, Dr Kizza Besigye as his "champion".
"I am not a double-dealer, I cannot support Dr Besigye and Mbabazi at the same time," Mr Wadri said. "I belong to FDC and my candidate is Dr Besigye. I drove 100 miles to Adjumani to welcome my president [Dr Besigye] to West Nile, how can anyone then claim that I support Mbabazi?" He asked
However, the former chairman of Parliament's Public Accounts Committee said he would not be making any demands on Go Forward, observing that any politician would want to associate with a strong person like him.
Former Gender minister Gabriel Opio also said he was not contacted before his name was included on the task force. "There is no way I can be on Mbabazi's team because I am a civil servant. I don't want to jeopardise my job," Mr Opio said.
Kalungu Woman MP Florence Kintu (NRM) and Bunya East MP Kyewalabye Majegere (NRM) also disowned Mr Mbabazi's task force, insisting that they were not contacted before their appointment.
Ms Kintu said: "I wasn't consulted. Until they talk to me, I can't say I am willing to be in the team. Until we have had a face-to-face discussion, I cannot say I am willing to serve or not."
An embarassment
Analysts who talked to Daily Monitor yesterday said this is likely to embarrass Mr Mbabazi, the Go Forward coalition and depict the former prime minister as disorganised.
Reaction from Go Forward
However, Go Forward spokesperson, Ms Josephine Mayanja Nkangi, yesterday insisted that all members of the task force were contacted. "Everyone was called by Mr Mbabazi and he spoke with them personally, if there was any oversight we shall sort it out," Ms Nkangi said.
Mr Mbabazi on Tuesday named two teams; the National Campaign Task force and the Go Forward Campaign Task force, replacing the structure he has been operating under until now.
The task force
The teams comprise 124 members that include former and current Members of Parliament from different political parties, religious leaders and members from the academia.
Some of the members on the team are; former Ethics and Integrity minister Miria Matembe, former Agriculture minister Hope Mwesigye and former Gender, Labour and Social Development minister Gabriel Opio.
Others are leaders of political parties such as Uganda Peoples Congress's Olara Otunnu and Democratic Party president Norbert Mao and former Buganda kingdom prime minister Mulwanyammuli Ssemwogerere who heads the team.
Reported by Yasiin Mugerwa, Albert Tumwine, Isaac Imaka & Joseph Onyango
editorial@ug.nationmedia.com
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