Uganda People’s Congress President, Olara Otunnu has vowed to deal with all party members, who are allegedly working for the ruling National Resistance Movement within the party.
Otunnu’s failure to vote for himself during the February 2011 presidential elections caused uproar among party members, who saw it as a disappointment. This led to the formation of pressure groups, including the “Makerere University-Otunnu Must Go” group and the “Buganda Elders Meeting.”
The Buganda elders meeting among others resolved that a delegates’ conference be held and a vote of no confidence passed against Otunnu’s leadership. The “Otunnu must go pressure group” also demanded that the party appoint new leaders and hold grassroots elections to increase support.
After denying the existence of the pressure groups, the party was quick to elect a secretary general, John Odit among others to the vacant top party positions. They also recently held grass roots elections starting with Western Uganda.
Otunnu insists the pressure groups are being set up by former UPC party members including Badru Wegulo, Henry Mayega and Chris Rwakasisi, who switched to the NRM. He adds that State House through the Inspector General of police, Maj. Gen Kale Kaihura, funds and meets these officials secretly plotting the party’s downfall.
Uganda Radio Network reporter could not confirm Otunnu’s allegations but can confirm that in all the pressure group meetings, none of the above members were cited.
Instead, top party officials including Night Kulabako, a member of Otunnu’s disciplinary committee and Kasirye Mayanja of the Central Executive committee, were reportedly in the anti-Otunnu meetings.
Others include Lira Municipality MP, Jimmy Akena, Ben Bakabulindi, the UPC Masaka district chairperson, Betty Amongi, the UPC Parliament chief whip and Santa Okot, the woman MP for Kole district. URN reporter can also confirm that at least 57 UPC members from Buganda’s 12 original districts have attended meetings against Otunnu organized by the pressure groups.
Otunnu states that he is not aware of their dealings but if they are found to have been involved in the meetings, they have some serious explanations to make before the official UPC party organs.
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Meanwhile Otunnu also vehemently denied holding any meeting with a few party members to discuss his resignation.
Otunnu insists that he has never brought up issues of his unhappiness with some party members, and denied suggesting that the Maruzi County MP, Maxwell Akora take over as President when he resigns.
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However, speaking to URN, MP Jimmy Akena revealed that the reason Akora is being fronted for the seat is because they are cousins and that Otunnu wants to use him to block Akena from taking over leadership. This, according to Akena, means Akora will cause a further split in the Obote family and UPC party.
MP Akora says he would not take the position but instead pleads with Otunnu to wither the storm since it would be a bad sign for him to leave the party in its current state.
