Leading opposition coalition partners, Forum for Democratic Change and Uganda People’s Congress, are today expected to meet in the first attempt to paper over cracks that looked to have derailed their search for a joint presidential flag bearer for the 2011 presidential elections.
Functionaries from the two parties told Daily Monitor yesterday that the two teams, led by their respective party presidents, will meet to discuss, among others, the controversial proposal by UPC that the Inter Party Coalition should boycott the 2011 elections if President Museveni declines to overhaul the Electoral Commission leadership led by Eng. Badru Kiggundu.
The UPC Secretary General, Dr Joseph Bbosa, said yesterday that his party organised the impromptu meeting between UPC’s Olara Otunnu, FDC’s Kizza Besigye and other IPC leaders today at 2pm to discuss UPC’s grievances with the IPC.
It emerged yesterday that a disagreement on whether the opposition should boycott the 2011 general elections prompted UPC to restrict its involvement in the IPC.
Dr Besigye wants the opposition to take part in 2011 elections irrespective of whether the EC is disbanded or not. However, Mr Otunnu says if changes at EC are not effected, IPC should boycott the forthcoming elections.
Proposal rejected
Daily Monitor has learnt that Mr Otunnu’s proposal was also rejected by other IPC presidents, including Asuman Basalirwa (JEEMA), Prof. James Kigongo (CP) and Michael Mabikke (SDP).
Mr Bbosa said yesterday that UPC does not want to take part in a process that it believes will not be free and fair. “It is not that we do not want to field a candidate in the general elections but we want to engage in a process that will be free and fair,” Mr Bbosa said.
“We cannot take part in an election organised by the current EC, which was appointed by President Museveni who is going to be a candidate in 2011. You remember during the vetting of these commissioners in Parliament, the opposition stormed out. It was the NRM MPs who approved them. So whose interests will they be serving in 2011?”
The opposition and several activists have carried out numerous protests against the electoral commissioners who were re-appointed last year despite widespread complaints about their alleged lack of impartiality and their method of appointment.
Mr Bbosa also refuted media claims that the UPC leadership has decided to pull out of the IPC. But said it is one of the options the party might take should IPC fail to agree on what to do about the 2011 polls.
FDC vice president Salaam Musumba said yesterday UPC should not try to impose its will on the co-operating members because each party in the coalition is treated as an independent entity.
“Not even Dr Besigye has powers to decide FDC’s 2011 elections boycott,” Ms Musumba said yesterday. “Some of UPC’s demands are almost impossible. Now all parties have flag bearer for 2011 elections, and to boycott elections would mean each party to re-convene its delegates’ conference so that delegates can decide.”
UPC officials believe that if all opposition parties boycott 2011 elections, it would create a political crisis in the country, as well as undermine President Museveni’s international credibility.
But senior FDC officials said yesterday that a boycott could turn out to be counter-productive for the opposition since the NRM is still cable of swaying other smaller parties to field candidates to run against its flag bearer
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