Pafo-RA merge,no clear leader By Mwanguhya C. Mpagi & Richard Mutumba July 24, 2004
KAMPALA- Reform Agenda and Pafo last evening resolved to merge but did not decide on who should lead the new coalition. However, Reform Agenda delegates had earlier resolved that Dr. Kizza Besigye should lead the new coalition. Over 400 Reform Agenda promoters resolved at a closed meeting on Friday to register as a political party and merge with some individuals in the leadership of the Parliamentary Advocacy Forum (Pafo) mainly those who formed the popular âMalwa Group.â Pafo chairman, Augustine Ruzindana said in a joint statement that the new party, with no name yet, would in the interim be known as the âCoalition of the Willingâ (CoW). âAccordingly, we are in the final stages of forging a platform of unity of members of the two political groups, and do call upon other Ugandans to join us in our quest for justice and equity,â a joint statement by Ruzindana and Sam Njuba said. Besigye, a losing candidate in the 2001 Presidential elections and his RA National Steering Committee (NST) will have six months to finalise merger negotiations and registration of a political party. It was also agreed that elections would be held in accordance with the new constitution guiding the merged party. Journalists were closed out of the meting after the opening statements in the morning but reliable sources attending at the UMA Conference Hall in Nakawa told The Monitor that the conference had by lunchtime unanimously approved three recommendations tabled by the National Steering Committee (NSC) and one that originated from delegates. âThe meeting has progressed well,â said one delegate. âWe have resolved to merge with all those who agree with us on the issues and to transform Reform Agenda (RA) into a political party and to have it registered. We also approved a proposal to extend the life of our NSC by six months with a mandate to complete the merger discussions and the registration of the party.â The NSCâs term of office was to have expired this month, after two years in office. A fourth motion was moved by Bushenyi district LC5 Speaker and RA district Chairman Odo Tayebwa âto reaffirm the leadership of Rtd. Col. Dr Kizza Besigye (right) as the leader of Reform today and tomorrow.â The four decisions concluded the main business of the conference. By lunchtime, RA Secretary General Geoffrey Ekanya was reported to be taking delegates through a proposed new constitution. Delegates were advised that the merger discussions could cause a few changes to the draft. In a defiant message, RA deputy chairman Mr. Sam K. Njuba announced that Besigye would âcertainly come back to Uganda in time to lead us (the opposition) through the crucial period leading to 2006.â In a message read for him by RA first Vice Chairman, Mr Reagan Okumu, Besigye asked his supporters to ârise to the challenge of taking over power and fostering good governance and development.â Sources at the conference said the proposal to merge with leaders from Pafo generated two viewpoints but no disagreements. âThe minority view was that the Pafo leaders should just join Reform as individuals and not as a group, the way we came in, without a merger. But the overwhelming view was to welcome them with open arms as a group. The matter was not contentious.â Another RA source said the Friday conference agreed not to fuse the chairmanship of the party with presidential candidacy. A RA source said some of the Pafo MPs were shaky about moving beyond a parliamentary caucus to a merged party âbut we will get many of them plus the credible leaders outside parliament like Muntu.â RA leaders present included MPs Godfrey Ekanya, Reagan Okumu, Wilfred Kajeke, Christopher Kibanzanga and Nyeko Michael Ocula. Third Deputy Chairperson Winnie Byanyima and Foreign Secretary Anne Mugisha, who are abroad, sent messages of support. The Scandinavian Branch was represented by their Deputy Chairman, Mr Moses Kasule. As to whether Pafo would accept Col. Besigye to lead the Reform/Pafo alliance, Pafo chairman, Augustine Ruzindana said he had no problem with the arrangement provided the process is transparent. A senior Pafo source said the merger might be ready before the end of August. The source said, âleadership discussions have not been entered into in detail but we do not expect any problems. We will compromise with each other and agree a way forward. Our key objective is to bring together people who see things the same way. The Movement has derailed the democratic process. We are also working out new positions on management of the economy, which will be publicized once ready.â Besigye has repeatedly said he will not contest the 2006 presidential elections unless the government agrees to carry out major democratic reforms. On August 17 2004, he will have spent three years outside Uganda, making him legally ineligible to lead a political party under the existing Political Parties and Organisations Act, which is still being contested by leaders from UPC and Reform in the Constitutional Court. RA Deputy Chairman Sam Njuba told The Monitor on Thursday âwe want Besigye as our leader, irrespective of what the law says.â The Monitor reported Thursday that other historical Movement leaders including Eriya Kategaya, Matthew Rukikaire and David Pulkol were set to join the merger. Other prominent names mentioned by sources include Suleiman Kiggundu and a former West Nile MP, Ali Gabi. The leaders of Pafo and the G7 were expected to attend the closing ceremony. The G7 include traditional parties: DP, CP, UPC and new ones like Justice Forum, The Free Movement, and the National Democratic Forum. Â 2004 The Monitor Publications -------------------------------------------- This service is hosted on the Infocom network http://www.infocom.co.ug
