UPC names team to reconcile factions

KAMPALA. The Uganda Peoples Congress party (UPC) yesterday announced that it had set up a committee that will hold talks with a rival faction. However, the date for the start of the dialogue was not given.
The party which twice ruled Uganda but was twice deposed by the military, is divided between two factions; one led by party president Olara Otunnu and the other by former national chairman Edward Rurangaranga.
The feud broke out in 2012 when a faction allied to Mr Otunnu blocked some senior party members from accessing party offices at Uganda House reportedly on the orders of the party president. The six members who were led by Mr Rurangaranga had come to attend the party’s press conference.
Mr Rurangaranga’s group, which is also backed by Mr Jimmy Akena, the son of founder party president Milton Obote, protested the move and secured a court injunction that froze all the party activities in December last year.
Last week, Mr Otunnu announced that he will reach out to the rival faction with a view to sorting out the differences through dialogue. This, he said, would pave the way for the removal of the injunction curtailing the party’s activities.
Yesterday, the UPC spokesperson, Mr Okello Lucima, told journalists at the party headquarters that after a reconciliation meeting is held, arrangements for the party national council meeting will follow.
“The national council will announce the arrangements for the new leadership of the party. Party activities will also resume starting from the grass root mobilisation,” Mr Lucima said.
Mr Rurangaranga, however, yesterday said the new position has not been communicated to him by the Otunnu faction. He, however, showed willingness to hold talks for the good of one of Uganda’s oldest political parties.
“We shall also choose our committee basing on their communication to discuss the fate of the party,” Mr Rurangaranga said.
Last week, Mr Rurangaranga hinted that he would consider withdrawing the injunction when the party president Otunnu and his allies commit to meaningful talks.

Committee

Mr Olara Otunnu
Mr Joseph Bossa
Mr Okello Lucima
Mr Edward Kakonge
Mr Canon Ayote
Mr Titia Kamure
Mr David Balirayine
Mr Zeverio Byabagambe
Ms Suzan Azatia

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