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Commentary For now, IPC is safer without the Democratic Party <http://digg.com/submit?url=http://www.monitor.co.ug/OpEd/Commentary/-/689364/917216/-/a275n5z/-/index.html&title=For%20now,%20IPC%20is%20safer%20without%20the%20Democratic%20Party> <http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=http://www.monitor.co.ug/OpEd/Commentary/-/689364/917216/-/a275n5z/-/index.html> <http://del.icio.us/post?url=http://www.monitor.co.ug/OpEd/Commentary/-/689364/917216/-/a275n5z/-/index.html&title=For%20now,%20IPC%20is%20safer%20without%20the%20Democratic%20Party> <http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://www.monitor.co.ug/OpEd/Commentary/-/689364/917216/-/a275n5z/-/index.html&title=For%20now,%20IPC%20is%20safer%20without%20the%20Democratic%20Party> <http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://www.monitor.co.ug/OpEd/Commentary/-/689364/917216/-/a275n5z/-/index.html&title=For%20now,%20IPC%20is%20safer%20without%20the%20Democratic%20Party> Share <javascript:void(0);> <javascript:void(0);>Bookmark<javascript:CreateBookmarkLink()> Print<http://www.monitor.co.ug/OpEd/Commentary/-/689364/917216/-/view/printVersion/-/3o6vgm/-/index.html> Email <javascript:void(0);> *Email this article to a friend* Friend's Email Address Your Email Message Submit <javascript:void(0);> Cancel <javascript:void(0);> Rating By Wilberforce Seryazi (email the author <javascript:void(0);>) Posted Thursday, May 13 2010 at 00:00 Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) vice president for eastern region Salamu Musumba was attacked for having told the Democratic Party (DP) “to go to hell” if they do not want to join the Inter-Party Cooperation (IPC). Hell, according to the Oxford Advanced Learning Dictionary, is a word that some people use when they are annoyed or surprised. DP portrays itself as powerful, even when this strength is not demonstrable as it emerged with about one per cent of the total vote in the 2006 elections, with only 10 Members of Parliament, all men from urban Buganda yet in most constituencies where they won, the FDC president won the presidential vote. In a multiparty dispensation, political parties can only compete freely and fairly in a democratic environment where every player is protected by the law and the state; which unfortunately does not exist in Uganda. There is evidence, in courts and parliamentary reports, that the electoral process has largely been a sham due to vote rigging, intimidation and harassment of political leaders, bribery and state-inspired violence among others. In this state of affairs, it becomes practically impossible for any party to carry out meaningful political activity, as all the entire opposition comes under attack from the NRM, leaving the only logical option to unite against this repression and restore a free democratic environment. The electorate in general feels the need to unite against this repressive NRM regime. It is these feelings and voices from all over the country that have resulted into the formation of the IPC. The IPC therefore is a matter of necessity for this nation and not a matter of convenience for the member parties. DP’s refusal to sign/join the first IPC protocol, before consulting its delegates, was understandable. After reading the 16 page IPC protocol, it would not take me ages to decide whether or not to join because of its clarity, aims and methodology. Why then would it take DP, with many brilliant lawyers, over two years to agree on such a simple document? To Musumba, DP does not seem to realise the need to unite the people of Uganda against this dictatorial regime; that it does not appreciate that while the NRM is still in charge, the opposition, including DP, will never enjoy their much desired right to freely and fairly participate in the political processes. Hence … “they can go to hell because the IPC has a running timetable which will not be changed because of DP.” DP’s delay to join the IPC could be part of the vices that have eaten it up to the bone marrow over the years: confusion, disorganisation, lack of unity and cohesion, the fight of big egos and indiscipline, as well as lack of leadership and general political mediocrity. What if DP becomes hostile to member parties or walks out of the IPC towards elections? Before it joins the IPC, it is imperative that DP first gets rid of these vices and guarantee its commitment to this noble cause. Being a matter of necessity to this nation, the IPC requires very reliable, capable, committed, principled leaders; with high level of political maturity and humility. Ugandans are united by the hardships that the NRM government has imposed on them and are yearning for a unifying solution to rally behind so the failure by opposition leaders to unite under the IPC, will risk isolating their parties from the electorate. But for now, the IPC is safer without DP. *Mr Seryazi is a lawyer* serya...@yahoo.com
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