DP FIELDS TEACHER TO UNSEAT VICE PRESIDENT BUKENYA

Moses Bisaso, a teacher at St. Elizabeth Nkoowe has won the party primary to compete against Vice President Gilbert Bukenya for Busiro North Parliamentary seat. Bisaso edged out Hussein Kasiita at a primary elections conducted at Namayumba sub-county headquarters.
Meanwhile, Vincent Kigozi Jjakoakawuuwo was re-elected as DP flag bearer Chairman LC111 Nsangi sub-county in 2011 elections. Kigozi who has served for the last 10 years retained the seat after beating Ssalongo David Muwera by 51 votes to 31.
In Nangabo sub-county, the incumbent Chairman Tonny Ssempebwa retained DP party ticket after defeating Experito Musisi by 40 votes to 26.

DP ELECTS MASAKA FLAG BEARERS

By Michael J. Ssali
Friday, August 27 2010

The Democratic Party (DP) in Masaka District has elected its flag bearers for the Woman MP and the district chairman, in preparation for the general elections scheduled for next year. Ms Agnes Mayanja and Mr Charles Muyimba Ssonko have been elected the party’s flag bearers for Woman MP and district chairman respectively.
DP National Organising Secretary Charles Mukasa Sserunjogi, presided over the elections that took place on Tuesday. Mr John Kawanga, the DP vice president and Mr Denis Mukasa Mbidde the DP legal advisor were and Masaka District party chairman attended.
Ms Mayanja, a teacher, contested against Ms Harriet Nakiyemba, a lecturer at Mutesa 1 Royal University, while Mr Ssonko beat Mr. Andrew Lukyamuzi Batemyetto, Mr George William Mugumya Bukenya, and Hajj Isaac Ssemujju. Mr Kawanga advised party members to stop wrangling

DP CONDEMNS NRM ELECTORAL VIOLENCE

Press statement

Elections violence

24th August 2010.
The Democratic Party expresses its concern again about the level of violence in the NRM primaries. The party raises its green flag and calls for peace and calm in the Country as political Parties choose their flag bearers.

The major culprits are, the usual suspects, the NRM big wigs who include Dr. Otala also Minister of Health,Lwemiyaga’s Hon. Theodera Sekikubo and Hon. Sam Kutesa to mention but a few. The usual victims are the innocent Ugandans who suffer at the hands of the big elephants as they struggle to domineer.

The Party is disturbed that these fights are not fist fights but lethal weapon including guns are employed, placing the lives of many Ugandans in danger as the bulls settle their scores. Police established by law to keep law and order is helpless and has been over powered resorting to civil litigation in courts against NRM stalwarts which cases have led to nowhere.

The Democratic Party is concerned that if this is the level of violence in the Movement Primaries, what will happen in the 2011 when the Movement tussles it out with other Parties. The army should be called in to assist our policemen who have failed to handle the security situation.

The Democratic Party condemns this violence in the strongest terms possible. The breakdown of civility and humility in the NRM Party should be stopped forthwith. We call upon Government not to look the other side but act as the law provides.

Education should be a priority
The NRM Government has again manifested its lack of prioritizing our education. Today is the second day for the sit down strike of Makerere University staff. Unfortunately, this is the time when the University is opening for first semester. The strike has definitely affected lectures at the University.

Although the Government is engaging the Makerere staff, this is too little, too late. They had all the time to settle this matter before the beginning of the semester without interrupting studies of the children of this Nation.
The Democratic Party calls upon the Government to settle the pension issue once and for all to avoid recurrence of such incidents.
Kakande Kenneth Paul

Deputy National Publicity Secretary
(Democratic Party) 0772522738

DEMOCRATIC PARTY BIG GUNS WINS POSTS IN PARTY PRIMARIES

Tuesday, 24th August, 2010

By Moses Mulondo
A number of Democratic Party (DP) top leaders have won elections in the ongoing party primaries, which started early this month. The party secretary for youth, Samuel Muyizzi, who is part of the committee coordinating the primaries, told New Vision that each constituency and district had been mandated to organise the primaries at a convenient date. Muyizzi said 50% of the country had held elections, adding that the exercise would end next month. The party MPs who have won the primaries for re-election in their constituencies include Ssebuliba Muddu Awulira (Kawempe South), Latif Ssebagala (Kawempe North), Paul Keneth Kakande (Nakawa), Mohamed Kawuma (Entebbe Municipality), Isa Kikungwe (Kyadondo South), and John Mutebi Balikuddembe (Busiro South). The MPs, whose areas have not yet held primaries, include Dr. Michael Lulume Bayiga (Buyikwe South), Betty Nambooze (Mukono North), and Elias Lukwago (Kampala Central). Lukwago, Nambooze and Lulume do not support the DP executive led by Norbert Mao, which is organising the elections. The party secretary for Kampala Central, Charles Wasswa, yesterday said Lukwago had not yet submitted his application for the primaries, which are to take place today. Efforts to get a comment from Lukwago were futile as his phone was switched off. Other top party leaders, who won the primaries to stand as MPs, include former Mengo minister Medard Lubega Ssegona (Busiro East), Sabastian Lwanga (Makindye East), Richard Kalibbala (Makindye West), Vincent Mayanja (Lubaga South), Maxensia Takirambule Nakibuuka (Lubaga North), Juliet Musoke (Wakiso Woman MP), David Kikazuba (Koboko), Richard Ssenkaaba (Buikwe West) and Janat Nassiwa (Kalungu). Others are Kampala journalist Joe Nam (Oyam North), Godfrey Ochwo (Tororo county), David Woniala (Budadiri East), Godfrey Kaggwa (Kakuuto), Christopher Okidi (Agago county), John Owori (Budama North), Joseph Pacoto (Chua county), Joseph Opio (Lamwo), William Lebu (Adjumani), Ellis Onzi (Moyo) and Peter Akol (Kasilo). The Masaka region held its primaries yesterday and by press time, the results were not yet known. However, sources in the party said Mukasa Mbidde (Kalungu East), John Kawanga (Masaka Municipality), and Mathias Nsubuga (Bukoto South) were expected to win in their areas. Results from Nakawa indicated that the current division chairman, Protazio Kintu, was beaten by Hajji Musa Bireke, and Nasser Takuba was beaten by Dan Ssali Konkomebbi in Kawempe Division.

RADIO BUGANDA (CBS) WINS IN COURT

The High Court in Kampala has dismissed with costs a case which was filed by government against CBS radio.Government closed down radio CSB in September 2009 accusing it of inciting people to violence after several riots broke out in areas of Buganda when Katikkiro Eng J.B. Walusimbi was blocked at River Ssezibwa by military operatives from proceeding to over see the final reparations for Kabaka’s visit to Kayunga which was slated for 12th September to grace Buganda Youth Day.However, through their lawyers J.W. Katende, Ssempebwa, Fredrick Ssentomero and Adram, the radio staff filed a civil suit in February in which they requested court to order government to immediately open up the radio and pay all the loses incurred by the employees since the radio was closedThe government also filed counter accusations against the radio which it accused of having been exploited to incite the public in September 2009 to riot against a decision to block Kabaka’s visit to Kayunga.During the last proceedings, lead council J.W Sempebwa agued that government cannot in any way file a suit against the radio since there are enough laws which are clearly stated in the electronic media statute which regulates all programmes aired on all electronic media.Whiling ruling on this case on Friday morning, Justice Vicente Zehurikize said that government has no right to take the radio to courts of law on behalf of the public.Justice Zehurikize announced October 8th 2010 to start hearing of the case that was filed by the radio employees.

IPC NOT TRANSPARENT SAYS UPC

Friday, 20th August, 2010
By Jeff Lule
The opposition Inter-Party Cooperation (IPC) coalition on Wednesday appeared to be on the verge of collapse as officials from one of the parties accused its leaders of not being transparent. The Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) party’s secretary general, Joseph Bossa, said there were many loopholes in the coalition that UPC needs to discuss before taking part in the nominations. “We have important concerns to do with good faith and transparency that we need to address in a very serious manner with the IPC summit. After reaching an understanding, then we shall have our candidate nominated,” Bossa told journalists at a press briefing. IPC is a loose coalition of five political parties which seeks to front a single candidate to dislodge President Yoweri Museveni from power in next year’s elections. But faultlines have already emerged in the alliance, which has been shunned by the Democratic Party. Bbosa said they have called for the meeting of IPC summit to agree on the way forward. On Tuesday, anxiety gripped members of the opposition after UPC’s leader, Olara Otunnu, failed to turn up for nominations of the 2011 joint candidate at Kololo Airstrip. However, UPC’s presidential envoy, Patrick Mwondha, told the gathering that the warrant of arrest issued by a magistrate in Lira district prevented Otunnu from participation. FDC president Kizza Besigye, Makerere University lecturer Prof. James Kigongo (Conservative Party), Makindye West MP Hussein Kyanjo (Justice Forum) and Makindye East MP Michael Mabikke (Social Democratic Party) were successfully nominated. Otunnu was given up to Monday to hand in his papers for nominations. Bossa explained that apart from the on-going court case, Otunnu had travelled to London before the official nomination date was communicated. Joseph Ochieno, a member of UPC, said Besigye had turned the IPC into an FDC thing. “Main positions in IPC are headed by FDC members while other parties are given small positions,” Ochieno noted. Otunnu’s press secretary, Robert Kanusu, said IPC should not give deadlines to any one for nominations if it is a focused coalition.

DP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE MAO VINDICATED BY OTUNNU ON INTER PARTY COATION

Written by HUSSEIN BOGERE & MICHAEL MUBANGIZI
Wednesday, 18 August 2010 19:03

UPC’s last minute withdrawal from the nominations for a joint opposition presidential candidate injects a dose of unpredictability into the Inter-Party Cooperation.
Olara Otunnu’s failure to show up at Kololo Airstrip on Tuesday raises questions as to whether his party still believes in the viability of an opposition coalition against President Museveni during next year’s presidential elections.
The IPC last Tuesday nominated potential candidates, one of whom will become its presidential candidate in the elections. The IPC which brings together five opposition parties, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), Justice Forum (JEEMA), Conservative Party (CP), and the Social Democratic Party (SDP), received nominations from four parties.CP’s little known lecturer of philosophy at Makerere University, Prof James Kikongo was the first IPC presidential candidate to be nominated. FDC presented Dr Kizza Besigye, followed by JEEMA’s Hussein Kyanjo and later the youthful Michael Mabikke of the SDP.
Sources close to UPC say a disagreement on whether the opposition should boycott the 2011 general elections prompted the party to restrict its involvement in IPC, The Observer has learnt. A highly placed source within UPC told The Observer that earlier this month, Dr Olara Otuunu, the UPC president, urged the IPC to boycott the forthcoming elections, a proposal that was flatly rejected.
“Otunnu reasoned that the boycott would create a new political situation in the country. However, all the party presidents were opposed to his proposal. They said it was foolhardy to let President Museveni run against himself,” an insider in UPC said.
Although IPC tried to play down Otunnu’s no show at Kololo for the nominations, arguing that it will not derail the cooperation’s plans, the development will stoke fires from its critics, like the Democratic Party, who predicted a stillbirth.
DP leader, Norbert Mao, has been a lead critic of the cooperation, saying it is a political platform only designed to promote and widen FDC’s base at the expense of the other political parties.
“Our plans are still on track. We shall meet next Monday (August 23) to build consensus on who should be our flag bearer. UPC must not nominate a candidate, they can back any of those already nominated,” Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, the IPC spokesman, told The Observer on Tuesday.
Beginning on Monday, the four IPC nominees will meet and try to agree on a joint candidate among themselves. If they agree, then the candidate will be recommended to the IPC National Conference. In the event that no consensus is reached, the matter shall be put to a vote in the IPC National Conference.
A candidate shall win by more than 50%. In the event that no candidate gains more than 50%, then the voting will proceed to a second round on the two candidates who will have gotten the highest number of votes. Each party will send 50 delegates to the conference.
Otunnu vs Kiggundu
Right from the time he set foot in Uganda from exile, Otunnu, a former United Nations Under-Secretary and Special Representative for Children in Armed Conflict, was opposed to Eng. Badru Kiggundu organising the elections. While touring Arua in June, Otunnu said Kiggundu must be removed if the elections are to be free and fair.
It however appears that Otunnu and the entire opposition have failed to dislodge Kiggundu. Although officially, UPC stated that Otuunu didn’t show up for nomination because he was attending a court hearing, it has emerged that there are simmering differences within UPC that are curtailing its continued participation in the IPC. Indeed that was confirmed by the varying reasons advanced for Otunnu’s absence.
Insiders said UPC asked for more time to hold grassroots elections. But the UPC spokesperson, Robert Kanusu told the IPC officials that they were unaware of the Kololo function until Monday night. The contradictory remarks go a long way to highlight the divide between UPC and IPC. The Observer has also learnt that the IPC roadmap was adjusted at the urging of UPC, but to the chagrin of the donors who have been bankrolling much of the cooperation’s activities.
UPC tears IPC
The Observer has learnt that some UPC officials are having second thoughts about the party’s continued partnership with some of the opposition parties. In a meeting early this week, some members encouraged the party to pull out. Their reasoning is that the IPC is dominated by FDC functionaries. UPC members, sources say, were unhappy that most of the leadership roles in the IPC activities ahead of the election of the flag bearer are dominated by FDC officials.
“Many of them thought that Otunnu would easily takeover the IPC leadership but that hasn’t been the case,” a source said. It is this faction, according to the source, that wants Otunnu to instead stand on a UPC ticket.
According to the road map, a copy of which The Observer has, with the exception of Wokuri Margaret, Coordinator of the newly formed pressure group, the National Alliance for Free and Fair Elections (NAFFE), the rest of the people coordinating IPC activities are FDC officials.
They include Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda (IPC Spokesperson, FDC), Ogenga Latigo (Leader of opposition, FDC), Francis Mwijukye (FDC), Frank Nabwiso (IPC Coordinator, FDC), Kassiano Wadri (Opposition Chief Whip, FDC), Alice Alaso (FDC Secretary General), Abdu Katuntu, (MP, FDC) and Anang Odur (FDC Vice Chairperson and chairman disciplinary committee.)
Patrick Mwondha, the source said, insisted in the UPC cabinet meeting that the party cannot pullout because it has been at the centre of the cooperation. As a matter of fact, only Mwondha turned up at Kololo.
And some officials said during the meeting that Otunnu couldn’t be nominated in absentia. Otunnu is said to be out of the country. The Observer has also learnt that some UPC members are uncomfortable with some FDC officials like Wafula Oguttu whom they allege is using his influence to have better coverage in a daily newspaper, and stifling the publication of stories favourable to UPC and Otunnu.
Wafula however said on Tuesday that publicity is created by activities the FDC has been engaged in. “If we have been moving around the country, and the media reports about our rallies, is that created by me?,” he asked.
However, there are also UPC officials who are aspiring to contest for various leadership positions and are already seeing that FDC officials stand better chances of being elected IPC flag bearers. These, sources say, would rather have IPC fail. These aspirants believe they stand a better chance of election as solo UPC candidates.
Related to this, some UPC members want a compromise candidate like former Buganda Kingdom Katikkiro Joseph Mulwanyammuli Ssemowogerere elected IPC flag bearer as a way of reconciling UPC with Buganda Kingdom with which they have had longstanding hostilities since the 1966 attack on the Lubiri.
It was because of those varying voices that the UPC executive tasked the UPC Secretary General, Joseph Bbosa to formally write to the IPC leadership communicating their stand.
On receiving the letter, Besigye, The Observer has been told, frantically tried to reach Otunnu on phone to urge him to accept the nomination in absentia but was unsuccessful. As a compromise, it was agreed that UPC be given more time to put its house in order.

hbogere@observer.ug

mmailto:mcmubs@observer.ug

WHEN I BECOME PRESIDENT-MAO

With few months away to the 2011 presidential elections, HUSSEIN BOGERE asked presidential hopefuls NORBERT MAO what he would do about some of Uganda’s most outstanding problems if they won.

If tomorrow you assumed power, how would your government deal with the issue of corruption?

I believe the best way to deal with corruption is through personal example. You can set up an Anti-Corruption Court, you can appoint an Inspector General of Government, you can have an auditor general, you can even involve the intelligence community, but if you are perceived as corrupt at the top, no one is going to change their ways.
So, three things are required to tackle corruption; leading from the front through personal example, ruthless measures against well known thieves, and the society frowning upon and shunning those in possession of ill-gotten wealth. As long as we praise thieves, thieving will be considered normal. And that has undermined the reputation of politicians.
Politics is now seen as an avenue for eating, not an avenue for leadership. Personal example is the key in fighting corruption. As we say, you cannot preach water and drink wine; you must walk the talk. I have said before that the fish rots from the head. The rot in the society needs major surgery. As president, I would tackle corruption ruthlessly, as opposed to what Museveni is doing which is similar to treating a cancer using Vaseline. The cancer has got to be cut out.

There seems to be a breakdown of public infrastructure in spite of the large amounts of money pumped in, how differently could the sector be handled?
The NRM government has been trying to undermine what was done in the past simply because they don’t want to acknowledge that the UPC government ever did anything good. But the public works department saved us a lot of money. It had employees who maintained specific sections of the road by making sure that no road was neglected. We would revive the public works department.
We will also invest in the railway because it would take away the burden from the roads so that they are largely for light loads. We would also empower local governments with equipment so that most of the work is done by government employees as opposed to private contractors who charge several times more than the normal cost of the road. We would revise the procurement process so that it is tighter. We would disclose the amount the government is willing to spend to eliminate competition based on pricing.


The breakdown of the infrastructure is partly to blame for the congestion within the city, but how can it be decongested?
Actually, we believe in another capital city. I think Kampala should be a commercial city and we build a new administrative city. Nigeria has done it, Tanzania has done it, and Brazil did it decades ago. A government led by the DP would definitely consult and come up with a new political capital. As for the congestion in Kampala, there are only three things to be done.
We have got to ensure that we have bigger roads and that means enforcing building regulations. It is not too difficult to enforce building regulations. Our government would go into a joint venture to provide public transportation. For those who don’t want to use passenger service vehicles, the licence fee would go higher. That will help deal with how many taxis or boda-bodas we have, particularly for the central business district. If you are operating there, the cost of the licence will determine whether you really get involved in that kind of business.
UTODA can be a Uganda government joint venture where government can guarantee huge loans for them to bring in buses. We also need to create some parks within the city and we should have at least 15 bus terminals in the area around Kampala with clearly demarcated bus stops, and that means we must get the expertise needed to plan a public transportation system. We will also enforce the traffic court. Right now our city is a free for all.


How do you rate the health sector?
Our health is in a shambles; that is why those who can afford it go abroad. Most Ugandans know that our health system was better in the decades past than now. Those days Mulago was a world class hospital. I still believe the government can transform Mulago into a world-class hospital and we can transform other health centres into modern facilities.
There has got to be a combination of public and private health services. We would procure modern medical equipment. The reason why people go to India and other places is because in Uganda we don’t have the basic equipment. There is a long queue in Mulago for those who want examination by endoscopy. Basic diagnostic machines are not available.
Secondly, we would increase the pay for health workers, probably anything up to Shs 3 million and more. Our policy would be to stem the brain drain. They need houses, good working conditions, assurance that they need to keep their body and souls within Uganda. We would also have to invest in training specialists. Uganda needs a younger team of specialists.
New diseases and epidemics are breaking out in Uganda. We must be able to invest in that kind of specialisation, and also in research. Our government would publish a patient bill of rights. A patient needs to know that when I go to a hospital these are my rights and no one can put a discount on them. We would have strategic partnerships in the region.
Why can’t East African countries invest in a health facility where heart surgeries and other complicated surgeries can be done? We can bring those specialists from Indian and we have a hospital within the region. There is no reason why we should not have a facility in our region where people can have these advanced medical examinations and treatments that would save our people the expenses of going abroad. I also believe that the health budget is too low.
We have got to increase the health budget so that essential drugs are available, but above all, our government would invest more in preventive healthcare. We still don’t have the financial muscle to do all the things we would want to do. There are simple things that citizens have to do; drinking boiled water, sleeping under a mosquito net, using pit latrines, basic sanitation. And also, health is not about hospitals and medicines. We would make sure that our approach to public health is holistic.
If you don’t provide clean water to the people, there is no way they are going to be healthy, if they are too poor, their diet is going to be predominantly starch; then they end up with diabetes. We would revive the public health sector.
There must be vigorous enforcement of the public health laws. We would also protect our citizens from being victims of dumping. Most of the drugs that come into the country are fit for disposal. Uganda is used as a dumping ground. For a country at the level of economic growth of Uganda, prevention would make economic sense.
We need to protect our citizens from quacks; we need supervision of health workers, an army of public health inspectors to ensure that people know that they have a responsibility to the public. I think the government has left the citizens at the mercy of private clinic owners. The government must ensure that it is present in the health sector. It is not enough to claim that people are buying drugs or training a few doctors. What the citizens want is that those who mistreat citizens pay a price.


You have been known to be critical of UPE and USE introduced by the NRM government, how differently would you approach them?
By having an education system that is not equitable, we are developing two Ugandas; the Uganda of the rich and one of the poor. It was actually good for government to offer universal education and a level of access in secondary education. But access isn’t enough, we also need quality. The world is very competitive. Many of the kids who go to UPE schools are doomed to 3rd rate education.
The only ones that escape are the lucky ones that get a sponsor. The education in the university depends on grades. You cannot get good grades unless you go to the good schools. That means the poor are being marginalised. I believe that by only concentrating on access as opposed to quality, the government is just giving the poor some painkiller, not a cure.
In my view, our kids go to school so that they can learn social skills, how to take care of their bodies, to figure out solutions to problems that are going to confront them in their lives, so as to deepen their faith. In other words, we need a holistic education system. We cannot just have an education system that is exam centred. The education system should not just be about printing certificates.
We would review the education system completely. What is required is that government should upgrade the schools around the country; that teachers have houses. Our teachers should also be well paid. The low pay for teachers has turned them into laughing stocks. I believe we have got to make UPE schools suitable for anybody. Right now anybody who has got a bit of money is scared of taking his kid to a UPE school.


Another issue that is co-joined with education is employment, or the lack of it. Is this a problem in Uganda and if so, how can it be tackled?
Uganda needs to concentrate on polytechnic education. There are many people clad in neckties and suits with clipboards chasing very few jobs. The Ugandan economy creates less than 20,000 jobs every year yet more than 50,000 people graduate every year. So, we are only meeting 40% of the job needs and the figures are cumulative.
What we need now is to tap into the global economy by having information and call centres the way India is doing, so that we can give international jobs locally. Secondly, we need an education system to equip our people with skills to make something, whether chairs or candles, or table clothes; you have something to sell and that means all you need to do is get a buyer.
But if all you can do is to say that you can do anything when asked, then it is a disaster. It is important, in my view, that our universities be linked to the job market, diversify our education system, teach people trade that equips them with means to make something that they can sell, tap into global trends using technology, harness the power of the internet to create opportunities for our people. We also need to consider the need for relevance.
We need to invest in sciences. There will never be a shortage of opportunities for those who are skilled in computer, mechanical, or even civil engineering. We need to train more doctors and look after them. We need to interest our people in fields like agriculture.
People must know that you can get rich through organic farming, green houses, you can tap into international markets. In the next election, the question of employment is going to be very crucial. A problem like unemployment requires innovation, that is why we are proposing that our government would invest in sectors that are modern; science and technology, computers, call centres and tour guides.
Public infrastructure also offers opportunities for jobs every time we have highways and dams being built, school and hospital projects. All those are opportunities for jobs. We must make sure that there is a hub where Ugandans can get information on job opportunities. It is possible we can create 100,000 jobs every year.


One of the avenues the NRM has used to create jobs for its cadres is through balkanisation, will your government reverse the process?
As a general policy we don’t need new districts because that has not improved service delivery. Our challenge is to strengthen sub-counties so that they can give us access to services that districts can give. The districts have now become a lounge for job seekers. I am not an apologist of these new districts. My view would be to build stronger sub-county governments.


The discovery of oil is another issue that is proving to be contentious, how can it be handled to avoid conflict?
Uganda, as the cliché goes, is gifted by nature but, we are cursed with corrupt leaders. The question, as we go into 2011, is who would you trust with Uganda’s oil wealth? To manage oil wealth requires a government which is not tainted with corruption. If we elect NRM, then we know our oil is going to be sold to the highest bidder and the proceeds shared between a clique, which is in charge of government and probably some foreign interests.
The ordinary citizens may not benefit. But what would we do with the oil? I don’t know what is going to happen in Southern Sudan, but if it is independent, then it is possible for Uganda to collaborate with Southern Sudan to have one oil refinery in Uganda to refine the oil in Sudan and the one we are to extract.
So, it would require some cross-border collaboration. Secondly, we will also ensure that we get involved in some retail business because cash flow is very important. Countries like Venezuela are benefiting from having petrol stations in North and South America. I have proposed before that Uganda could consider acquiring the outlets of Shell.
Other people think that government should not be in that kind of business but I believe you can have efficiently run parastatals like National Water and Sewarage Corporation. Thirdly, this oil doesn’t belong only to those who are alive today, but also the unborn. It is our duty to create a future fund where the money from oil can be kept so that even those who will be born when there is no more oil flowing will benefit from the oil money.
It works in Norway. We would offer better stewardship for oil than any other government on account of our fight against corruption. So the challenge is of good stewardship and this means that you must know that this is a public asset, not private.


And finally, federalism and Buganda issues which have become a hot potato in our politics. Have your views changed on federalism?
Not at all, I belong to DP and since 1961 it has supported federalism. You could call it democratic federalism; there is no contradiction between being strongly republican and also being strongly decentralised. There is no overwhelming reason why our government shouldn’t support federalism.
Implementing federalism would also reduce this winner-take-all mentality. It would reduce the life and death struggle for power which we currently witness in Uganda. It would also make the sharing of national wealth equitable. Right now, local governments receive 20% of the national budget. Under federalism the figure would increase, giving the local government more say in prioritisation and allocation of public resources.
I also believe that the struggle for power would reduce because if power is at the local level, the struggle to capture Kampala would be less fierce because there would be power at these levels. DP will hold a national conference to discuss this matter and then the question will be put to a national referendum so that it is settled once and for all.


How will your government improve the wellbeing of its citizens?
First of all, we would guarantee a minimum budget of agriculture at 10%. That is not too big; it is actually what was agreed on in Maputo. In Uganda, the agriculture budget is being cut very frequently yet it employs over 70% of our people. I think that is where most of our money should go. Secondly, we would create what we call a citizens’ empowerment fund to support small and medium size enterprises.
Thirdly, we shall not be shy to lock out foreigners from retail trade. Our government would invite investors in wholesale trade, retail trade would be exclusively for citizens. I think it is important that we have a policy that protects certain sectors. We also believe that we should project our strength by negotiating on issues of trade.
We should be able to export some of our organic fruits to these foreign markets and make sure we project our strengths. Our government would strengthen our ability to bargain because much as we are weak, we are not as weak as we think. It is only that we haven’t known our strength. We can negotiate as a block, either as East Africa or Africa.
In short, our agenda for fighting poverty would be promoting exports, investing in agriculture to support small and medium enterprises, opening more retail avenues for our people, and also re-tooling our people. We will also revive cooperatives. We believe cooperatives allowed access to markets to even the people in the villages. We would also need to open a farmers’ bank. The cooperative bank was shut down so farmers need to contend with these loan sharks.

hbogere@observer.ug

IPC WILL COLAPSE-UNIVERSITY DON

By Moses Mulondo

WHO will be the Inter –Party Cooperation (IPC) presidential candidate? Nobody can tell.But Makerere University researcher and political science lecturer Prof. Aaron Mukwaya has confidently predicted that the opposition alliance will eventually collapse without achieving its objective. IPC’s objective is to field a joint presidential candidate to deny President Yoweri Museveni victory in the 2011 election. Nominations for the joint candidate are scheduled for Tuesday at Kololo Independence Ground. Speaking to Sunday Vision, Mukwaya formulated various scenarios all pointing to the failure and collapse of the loose coalition composed of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), Conservative Party (CP), Justice Forum (JEEMA) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP). “I doubt whether all those in IPC agree on the question of Mengo, the question of land, the question of the federal model, as well as the baggage and luggage of Uganda’s history. Even their ideologies are different. I, therefore, don’t see any possibility of their marriage standing the test of time,” Mukwaya argued. Former JEEMA chairman Mohammed Kibirige Mayanja told Sunday Vision that he concurred with the university don. “In IPC we have various political parties with differing interests and aspirations and different ideologies yet each of these parties want to capture power. This makes the process of weaving an alliance and electing a joint presidential candidate difficult,” Mayanja admitted. “Some people thought the race was between UPC and FDC, but even JEEMA is determined to take the presidency and that is why I stepped down for Hussein Kyanjo. We shall have to whether the storm and go through it.” Mukwaya explained that the parties came together before widening their influence on the ground which he said was a waste of time. “There is no scientific evidence that since 2006 those parties in IPC had been gaining ground from the yellow areas. They seem to be struggling for areas within their own territories and this will compel them to fight each other instead of fighting NRM,” Mukwaya elaborates. Yellow is the NRM colour. The renowned academician reasoned that IPC is abstract not only to the voters but also to the parties involved. “The conceptualisation of IPC is even very distant from these parties involved because the donors are the ones who have provided the framework as well as the content of IPC. It is neither a vehicle for political mobilisation nor one for winning state power. What keeps these parties together in IPC is nothing other than the fact that it is income-generating project in which donors have injected a lot of money,” he stated. Mukwaya advised the opposition parties to abandon IPC activities so that each party concentrates its efforts and resources on widening its hold on the ground. “My great peace of advice to these opposition parties in IPC is to realise the need to disengage and go back to their individual camps. There is no way they will sell the amorphous IPC during the 2011 elections,” he counselled. “Let them ask the donors to give them money for strengthening their parties. They are just wasting the little time they have left organising IPC instead of organising their own political parties whose current state leaves a lot to be desired.” On whether if the IPC won the power, the five parties would work together, he said, “Even that is impossible. For instance, if the FDC president became the IPC presidential candidate, the Electoral Commission will put him on the ballot papers as an FDC candidate with the FDC symbols. So power in that case will be handed over to FDC and the other parties will be at the mercy of FDC,” he explained. “The parties FDC is allying with are inconsequential. Even UPC, it is a party with a strong past but with a weak present that takes it out of the political power equation.” “FDC is wasting its little time with frozen parties which don’t have significant support. By hiding under IPC, FDC is hiding under a dead lion,” Mukwaya argued. A top FDC who preferred anonymity revealed that they are afraid that if the UPC president became the presidential candidate, the opposition coalition would be denied a significant number of votes in the Buganda, a region that could decide who wins the 2011 elections. “The name UPC in Buganda sounds like hell or a bad omen. That is why even when all the IPC parties agreed to support and campaign for DP’s Betty Nambooze in the Mukono North by-elections UPC president Olara Otunnu was discouraged from openly supporting her because his party is loathed in the central region. As FDC and UPC are embroiled in scheming and counter-scheming to provide the IPC joint presidential candidate the process of electing one has been further complicated by JEEMA’s presidential flag bearer Kyanjo jumping into the race. “I am a better option to FDC’s Besigye and UPC’s Otunnu. First of all these two continue looking at each other as more deserving but one also thinks of himself more deserving than the other. Having both of them in the equation may not solve the problem quickly,” Kyanjo told Sunday Vision. The Makindye West legislator further argued that he enjoyed overwhelming support from his home base region of Buganda region, a quality which his colleagues lack. “The people in the central region look at IPC with suspicion because of the absence of their own. If their expressed desire is translated into practical support, the whole story would end with Kyanjo getting the IPC joint candidature,” he argued. During JEEMA delegates conference recently, Kyanjo assured party members that he would emerge as the most powerful opposition presidential candidate in the 2011 elections. “There has been mixed feelings about IPC. JEEMA will not be swallowed. We are the best party to produce the IPC presidential candidate. We have a clean image. JEEMA has nothing to apologisze for like FDC and UPC, “Omar Kalunge Nyago, JEEMA spokesman argued. In interacting with strategists of the three parties, Sunday Vision discovered that each party believed their candidate should be the joint presidential candidate. This makes it hard for FDC, UPC, and JEEMA to agree on a joint presidential candidate.
Published on: Saturday, 14th August, 2010
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DP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE AT THE BOMB BLAST SCENE

Democratic Party Candidate Nobert Mao laying laying flowers at the Ethiopian Village one of the places hit by bombs on July 11. Looking on is DP Secretary General Hon, Mathias Nsubuga

Inter Party Cooperation is dead – Mao

By David Livingston Okumu (email the author)
Posted Tuesday, August 10 2010 at 00:00
Democratic Party Presidential Candidate Nobert Mao has said he will defeat the Inter Party Cooperation, when they elect their flag bearer for the coming presidential elections.“I am waiting for the IPC to first finish their top most election then I will start to weaken them like I have done the NRM party,” Mr Mao, who was canvassing support in Acholi sub region, said on Saturday.
“I told them before that the idea of the IPC would not work because there is already internal bickering in the coalition.”
Strong supportWithout elaborating, Mr Mao said the IPC platform is ‘already dead’. The IPC is a loose coalition of the opposition parties in Uganda. It brings together Forum for Democratic Change, Justice Forum, Social Democratic Party, Uganda Peoples Congress and the Conservative Party. The idea was spearheaded by FDC under their president, Col. Kizza Besigye.
Unclear objectivesThe DP, which is the most dominant opposition party in Buganda, has not joined the IPC ahead of next year’s general elections, saying the alliance’s objectives are not clear.
DP’s national executive committee also argued that past alliances had weakened rather than strengthened it. Mr Mao observed that the DP has strong support in Buganda as a traditional party but would ensure that it equally gets mammoth support in northern Uganda.
On Uganda Peoples Congress party joining of IPC, Mr Mao said Mr Olara Otunnu, the party’s president, blundered because they would not benefit from the alliance.