Hi there!
kadarakur...@yahoo.co.uk thought you might be interested in this article from
The New Vision online: http://www.newvision.co.ug
They also added this comment:
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Reflecting on the UNAA Convention
Opiyo Oloya
THE Uganda North American Association convention in Chicago this past weekend
was a mixed bag of successes and failures. A preliminary head counts showed
that the attendance was very high, with participants coming in from all over
North America and Europe.
For the first time, the issues from northern Uganda dominated the proceedings
with two sessions given for discussions of the way forward. Both the Friday and
Saturday sessions were heavily attended by delegates who wanted to learn more
about the problems and how they can become involved. The presence of Minister
of State for Karamoja and First Lady, Janet Museveni, certainly elevated the
attendance of the Saturday session to standing-room only.
The majority of delegates expressed the sentiments that the Government needed
to move more aggressively with post-war reconstruction and rehabilitation
programmes in the north.
Among others, the draft UNAA resolution on northern Uganda included provision
of “free tuition and all educational expenses through university for the next
20 years, starting 2010”. The resolution also called for “two oxen and one ox
plow” to each family in northern Uganda.
In a spontaneous act of solidarity with children of northern Uganda, delegates
passed the hat around and collected $600 to sponsor a child in northern Uganda
through school. Participants want the fund to become an annual part of UNAA
conventions. Janet acquitted herself very well with a polished performance that
surprised many delegates.
Against all these positive vibes and intentions, however, was an ugly
underbelly of politics playing out. From the very start of the convention on
Thursday, the campaign for the UNAA presidency took a decidedly meaner tone.
Accusations and rumours flew back and forth that some of the candidates had
bought off the delegates with money provided by the Government of Uganda. There
were also suspicions that delegates would be sneaked in to shore up the support
for certain candidates. There were election material and paraphernalia
everywhere throughout the convention site at Chicago-Marriott.
The chicanery played out during the presidential debate on Saturday night.
First, the former UNAA president, Lt. Frank Musisi, showed up late for debate.
He then announced that an injunction from Cook County Court had been served
that forbade the elections to move forward.
Stunned delegates asked how this could be, and who was behind such a move.
Musisi said everything would be sorted out by Monday, but was adamant that
further debate was futile since elections were now called off.
However, just as suddenly as the announcement was made, debate moderator Dr.
Muniini Mulera of Toronto clarified the situation. The court injunction, he
said, was filed against the UNAA electoral commission. It, however, did not
stop elections from going forward.
The EC had 30 days to file a rebuttal, but elections would proceed the
following day (Sunday) as planned. This development was greeted with happy
cheers and much applause. Musisi now decided he would participate in the debate
and was given time to elaborate his position.
But the die had been cast. Many of the supporters of Musisi who had been upbeat
all evening long now fell silent. Somehow, they felt they were being played for
fools. The planned dinner boat cruise was a huge disappointment, and likely the
final nail that brought Musisi down. The buses carrying delegates to the boat
were ordered to turn around and return to the hotel on the orders of Musisi.
Apparently, there were some non-paying intruders on the bus. Against much
protestation, exhausted delegates were ordered off the buses. Some got off,
others refused. Then everyone was ordered back on the buses, and driven to the
boat.
Once there, delegates were made to wait an additional hour in line while Musisi
spent the time on the phone with some unknown parties. To add salt to injury,
once on the boat, the promised dinner turned out to be finger snacks.
At least the live music was good, and delegates consoled themselves with
dancing to the upbeat tunes.
It was no wonder then that the electoral commission took every precaution to
avoid any perception and accusation of bias. The voting began on time Sunday
morning. Security was decidedly the tightest in UNAA history with uniform
guards posted at the entrance.
The voting booths came courtesy of the Chicago Electoral Commission. Inside,
cameras quietly recorded the general scene such that any malfeasance would be
exposed. The voters list was publicly posted for all to see.
Election officials verified the identity of each voter against a photo identity
card, and scrutinised each completed ballot to ensure that the voter placed a
single ballot in the box. After voting, each voter’s right hand was stamped
with the word “completed” to ensure there was no second voting.
The drama around the UNAA elections came to a head on Sunday night shortly
after 11:00pm. The electoral commission escorted by uniformed guards entered
the banquet hall, and announced the winners. The presidential elections results
were the last to be announced.
Flex Kabuye polled 185 votes, Lt. Musisi got 227 and Moses Wilson won the
majority votes of 358. Wilson supporters erupted in celebration. Musisi,
however, refused to concede defeat. He instead promised to take time to look
carefully at the results.
He did not say whether he would wage a legal battle, but did not rule that out
either. He then stalked quietly to his seat, refusing to join Wilson at the
podium. At least, Flex Kabuye was more gracious. He embraced Wilson, and
promised to work with him.
The 2010 UNAA Convention will be held in Washington DC. It promises to be a
great opportunity to heal the rift that had threatened the survival of UNAA.
But Chicago will go down as one of the best attended UNAA conventions, and yet
also one of the most divisive.
opiyo.ol...@sympatico.ca
You can also read the article online at:
http://www.newvision.co.ug/detail.php?mainNewsCategoryId=8&newsCategoryId=20&newsId=693991
re: hawa moga. ramadhan kareem to you and all fellow ugandans brothers and
sisters in khartoum sudan. email me on my other email contact. the one you use
to send massages to. theres alot for you. only ahmed rajab who works with undp
in khartoum sudan,replying my messages. how is your work with unhcr? awaiting
to hear from you. salam warahma.
________________________________
From: Hawa Juma <ju...@unhcr.org>
To: westnilenet@kym.net; Hawa Juma <ju...@unhcr.org>
Sent: Wednesday, September 9, 2009 1:00:05 AM
Subject: [WestNileNet] Re: WestNileNet Digest, Vol 13, Issue 29
Hi Rony,
I hope all is fine with you in Uganda. How is your family. With whom are you
working after your departure from Blue Nile Basin, Khartoum. You went without
saying bye to us as a matter of courtesy. Anyway let's hope to meet again in
any other point.
Best regards to you and your family.
hj
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