Foreign leaders shun DP reunion

Kampala.

International political activists and opposition leaders that the Democratic Party (DP) had said would attend their alumni assembly on Wednesday did not turn up.
Even those that arrived in the country such as Dr Klaus Schuller, the managing director of Germany’s Christian Democratic Union, did not attend the function despite earlier being received by DP president Norbert Mao.
Other guests, who did not show up, include Kenya’s former prime minister Raila Odinga, Mr Nelson Chamisa from Zimbabwe, former Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar, Mr Fikile Mbalula from South Africa and Dr Paul Williams from UK.
Mr Samuel Lubega Mukaku, the chairman organising committee, said the current bad politics in the country forced the guests to keep away.
“The government used local entities to try and divert the guests because of the ongoing pulling of political strings, which is not good for the future of the country on diplomatic politics,” Mr Lubega said.
He added that some diplomats scared away those who were already in the country that DP practises dirty politics.
Nevertheless, several prominent opposition politicians graced the function and they include Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Winnie Kizza, the former FDC president, Maj Gen (Rtd) Mugisha Muntu, Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi, JEEMA president Asumani Basalirwa and PDP president Abedi Bwanika
Former DP president Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere, who was in attendance, urged the united DP to play a lead role in reconstructing the country into a sounding democracy.
DP president Norbert Mao said the reunion was a big step for the opposition to achieve their dream for Uganda.
“Our role now is to identify potential leaders, equip them and deploy them. DP has been very good in identifying and equipping but very poor in deploying,” he said.