Three senior UPC members opposed to the leadership of their party president Olara Otunnu have given him an ultimatum of one week to convene the delegate’s conference or they organize their own delegate’s conference. The senior members issued the ultimatum this afternoon, when they stormed Uganda House, demanding to meet Otunnu.
They are Edward Rurangaranga, the former UPC national chairman,
Jimmy Akena, Lira Municipality Member of parliament and former secretary general John Odit. While handing over their petition at the party reception signed by 800 out of the 1005 party delegates, Rurangaranga said they have given Otunnu until May 12th to convene the delegate’s conference.
He said this is the last time they are reminding Otunnu of his duties.
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He cited Article 13.3 section 4 of the 2008 UPC constitution which states that the president should call a special delegates conference when petitioned by half of all the members of the delegates conference.
Drama ensued when Rurangaranga and his team tried to hijack the party weekly press briefing but they were blocked by the party staff from accessing the conference room.
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James Rukundo, the UPC Western Youth coordinator pushed Rurangaranga against the well. This didn’t go down well with Rurangaranga who called for disciplinary action against the youth leader. Otunnu was away in Dar-Es-salaam when the trio stormed the party offices. Harold Acemah, the UPC economic policy adviser says they will issue an official communication after making consultations.
Otunnu fell out with some of his senior party members late last year after he reshuffled his cabinet. He sacked Rurangaranga and John Odit and replaced them with Professor Edward Kakonge and Rev. Jacinto Ogwal as national chairman and secretary respectively.
