UPC in deadlock over election of leaders
KAMPALA. A plan by the Uganda Peoples Congress party leadership to get elections held for new office bearers hang in balance after a rival faction said it will not cooperate with Mr Olara Otunnu, a decision which may affect the party’s participation in next year’s election.
Continuing a long-running internal dispute, this latest impasse, among other consequences, impinges on UPC’s ability to endorse or nominate the party’s choice for presidential candidate in the upcoming national elections.
Outgoing party president Otunnu had on Thursday issued a timetable for preparatory activities which were to culminate in UPC holding a National Council meeting and Delegates Conference where it was expected the election of party leaders, including the party president, would be held. Mr Otunnu recently announced that he will not seek a second term as UPC president.
Mr Otunnu’s timetable, however, is of no effect without the consent of a faction led by the former UPC national chairman, Maj (rtd) Edward Rurangaranga. Maj Rurangaranga on Thursday told Daily Monitor that they will not withdraw a court injunction they secured which blocked all party activities until certain leadership questions are resolved.
Defiance
In the statement released yesterday, Mr Otunnu had called for the withdrawal of the injunction, saying it was delaying party activities such as holding of the National Council and Delegates Conference.
However, Maj Rurangaranga said he is not ready to withdraw the court injunction because, among others, Mr Otunnu has no right to release the party roadmap since his term of office already ended. “We should be called by court not Mr Otunnu because the hearing is set on April 20 and we shall react according to the court decision,” he said.
Otunnu road map
April 10 -17: Receiving applications from aspiring presidential candidates.
April 20-24: Processing applications
April 27 to May 14: candidates canvass for District Conference (DC) endorsement.
May 16: Convening of DC
May 18 - 22: processing and verifying results from DC
May 23 to June 8: National campaign period for candidates.
June 10 to 11: Holding of National council session.
June 12: Holding delegates conference.
