Museveni Opponents Meet In UK
By Emmy Allio, Felix Osike
and Geresom Musamali
OPPOSITION leaders met in London at
the weekend and resolved to form a coalition to defeat President Yoweri Museveni and the Movement
in the 2006 general elections.
Sources in London said the meeting
was held in Elephant and Castle (Fusion) Building on Saturday and Sunday.
It was attended by Herman Ssemujju, a former
presidential aspirant, Henry Mayega, the
vice-chairman of the UPC Presidential Policy Commission and Peter Otai, the Forum for Multiparty Democracy chairman.
Others were Joyce Ssebuggwawo of Reform Agenda, Dr Nyekorach Matsanga, chairman of
Africa Strategy and former spokesman of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA)
rebels.
Joseph Pinytek Ochieno,
chairman UPC External Bureau UK,
Kazibwe of the Democratic Party, Rashid Kasato of Justice Forum, Lucy Ajok
of UPC and Faruk Mwanga
also attended.
Sources at UPC headquarters yesterday said Mayega was
in London, but would not say what
he was doing there.
Patrick Mwondha, a prominent UPC stalwart, said he
had no details of what transpired in London.
“I am not in position to comment.”
But a UK source
said, “Members resolved that the parties form a coalition in order to
defeat the Movement in the 2006 general elections.”
They opposed the proposed referendum on the change of political systems, saying
there must be an unconditional return to multi-party politics and acceptance of
federalism, the source said.
Other resolutions were eradication of internal and external wars, reactivation
of the economy, elimination of poverty, creation of an all-inclusive government
with regional balance and a National Conference to be declared and an interim
government be formed that represents the interests of Uganda.
The meeting was reportedly opened by Herman Semujju
who said President Yoweri Museveni
was afraid of a return to political party activities. He called on all Ugandans
in the diaspora to rise up and oust Museveni immediately.
Matsanga, who is now an adviser of Zimbabwean
President Robert Mugabe, said the NRM lacks a policy
for reconciliation. He also said the war in northern Uganda
was being prolonged by army officers who want to amass wealth. He said the
parties had failed to oust Museveni because of
failure to outsmart his military strategies.
Matsanga said parties should consider all options
even military “if that can be the only way to oust President Museveni.”
“If the ‘third term project’ is passed then we will pick up
arms and fight,” he said.
The source said Mayega presented a paper titled,
“Returning Uganda to Multi-Party Democratic Federalism”, in which
he said pressure from the donors had forced the President to open up political
space for the interest of markets and investors but not for the people of
Uganda. He condemned the use of the army during elections.
Kasato reportedly said the NRM government had
discriminated Ugandans and tortured opposition elements. He said there would be
no rest or tranquillity until Uganda
is freed from the NRM. Otai reportedly used
pictorials dating back to 1988 to justify his case.
Ends
Published
on: Wednesday, 6th August, 2003
