New group urges Museveni to quit 2006 By Mwanguhya C. Mpagi & Richard Mutumba July 24, 2004
KAMPALA â Dr. Suleiman Kiggundu has again told president Yoweri Museveni to leave power in 2006. Museveni will by then have ruled Uganda for 20 years. Kiggundu said the President has served enough and should not see the country through another bloodbath. âWe donât want Uganda to become a battle field again in 2006. This is why I am asking President Museveni to allow a peaceful transition of power,â he said. Speaking during the merger of Reform Agenda and the Parliamentary Advocacy Forum (Pafo), on Friday Kiggundu, a former Central Bank Governor, told a packed room of mainly Reform Agenda delegates that Museveni should not be allowed to hang onto power. Diplomats from the British, American, Irish and German embassies listened attentively as Kiggundu delivered his message. He said he carried three main messages; for the President, for the Speaker of Parliament and MPs for the opposition and the general public. âMy message to the Speaker and Members of Parliament is that this is a very important historic moment. Donât betray the people of Uganda.â He said the MPs should withstand the intimidation and avoid the inducement that will come to them in the quest to change the constitution to allow Museveni another term. He told the various political groups that this was the right time for a broad coalition to start working. âI want to see a programme by all parties, sending out a message throughout the country that they can oppose the Movement. Pafo and Reform Agenda agreed to merge in what they termed a Coalition of the Willing. The two groups said there was an effort towards a new and democratic Uganda and invited other groups to join them later. A joint statement issued at the end of the meeting and signed by Mr. Augustine Ruzindana and Sam Njuba stated that the door remain open for all those who want to join the coalition. Notable figures at the meeting included Rtd. Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu; former External Security Organisation chief Mr David Pulkol; Pafo legal officer Abdul Katuntu; Democratic Party lawyer Mr Erias Lukwago; and diplomats from the United States, British, Irish, Jack Sabiiti, National Democrats Forum chairman Mr Chapaa K. Karuhanga, East African Legislative Assembly member Mr Yonasani Kanyomozi and Gulu Municipality MP Norbert Mao. Karunga made a scathing attack against Museveni and urged all the opposition to unite. âI can tell you the opposition is stronger today but we canât win an election [because we are not united]. I hope every member of the G7 will embrace this,â he said. Ruzindana said the country was facing a political, social and economic crisis and efforts to mitigate the situation should be enhanced. Mao told the Reform Agenda promoters to brace themselves for torture and harassment. âThis is like Pentecost day. You have the fire inside you go out and be tortured, harassed, donât give up,â he said. Â 2004 The Monitor Publications -------------------------------------------- This service is hosted on the Infocom network http://www.infocom.co.ug
