The opposition Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) party has written a strategic plan which it says is aimed at improving its fortunes in the 2016 general election.
The Strategic Plan 2011 – 2016 contains an analysis of UPC’s history, chronicling the achievements, failures and challenges of its two periods in power and a projection of where it wants to go.
The plan, to be released at a grand event, spells out a seven-point programme the party has to execute in order to gain more political ground.
Top on the programme is creating and strengthening internal party structures with the aim of improving the members and public’s perception of the party.
To improve its image, UPC plans to strengthen its external communication systems by setting up a newspaper, radio and television stations and a website, among others.
Uganda’s oldest political party also plans to embark on an aggressive recruitment and representation of women and the youth in its structures, acknowledging that these are two key constituencies they have not recaptured yet.
On its finances, the strategic plan spells out moves to widen its resource net beyond its financial arm, the Milton Obote Foundation, and a financial team will be set up for that purpose.
Robert Kanuusu, the UPC press secretary, if implemented to the letter the plan is expected to boost the party’s chances in the run up to 2016.
Kanuusu says the optimism about the plan is based on the fact that the ruling National Resistance Movement is in free-fall and unlikely to be a potent political force in 2016.
He says for decades the UPC has been accused of being out-of-touch with the people and hopes that the plan will strengthen the party.
The strategic plan comes at a time when the Olara Otunnu-led administration of Uganda’s oldest political party is facing internal revolt and a leadership contest from a group led by Jimmy Akena, the son to its founder Apollo Milton Obote.
