Political parties to cooperate this year

2013 pledge. Leaders say they will not put their eye off corruption that is eating up society but some of the officials disagree on working methods.

Opposition political parties have welcomed the New Year with so many expectations, promising to unite in the fight against bad governance and restore sanity in areas where the NRM government has failed.

Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) leader Olara Otunnu in a telephone interview on Tuesday said it was time for the opposition and the ruling party to work together and give the country a new direction before it is too late.

“It is clear that even a child can see that something fundamental has gone wrong in the country, It is manifested all over the place,” Mr Otunnu said, adding: “People have lost hope and there is disorder setting in and so whether UPC, FDC, NRM or DP, we should come together and have responsibility to take charge and change the direction.”

Musumba view
While Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) vice-president for Eastern Region Salaamu Musumba said 2013 will bring dialogue within the NRM party.
Explaining further, Ms Musumba said an incident like the death of former Butaleja Woman MP Cerinah Nebanda, about two weeks ago, has forced the NRM party members to dialogue with each other and this could force them to extend the gesture to the opposition.

“2013 is a blessed year and God’s glory is going to be bestowed on us. We are starting with dialogue,” she said. However, Ms Musumba disagreed with Mr Otunnu’s proposal that political parties should work together this year, saying individual parties should work it out alone.

“We have always wanted to work together but failed. NRM opted to work with me because I have the mandate of the people of Kamuli. They didn’t like it but it was forced onto them by the population when they voted me” she said.
Ms Musumba recently won the Kamuli LC5 by-election, defeating NRM’s Thomas Kategere.

Democratic Party legal Advisor Fred Mukasa Mbidde said his party plans to reach out to the grassroots to disseminate party ideologies and fight corruption.

Confers with Otunnu
Mr Mbidde, also a member of the East African Legislative Assembly, is in agreement with the UPC leader that political parties must cooperate.
“We intend to go on a grand mission of strengthening our party structures but above all cooperate with other parties. Musumba is far from the reality on the ground and I don’t know what she is saying. I am in touch with her party than she is,” Mr Mbidde said.

For the NRM, party secretary for publicity, who doubles as Minister for Information and National Guidance, Mary Karooro Okurut, NRM’s priority in 2013 is to build more cohesion within the party.

“What we want is internal democracy,”  Ms Okurut said.

rwanambwa@ug.nationmedia.com