The proposed meeting between the warring Uganda People’s Congress-UPC factions is hanging in balance. Olara Otunnu, the UPC president says they will not be intimidated by the break way faction members into any meeting. On Wednesday, Edward Rurangaranga, the former UPC national chairman addressed the media saying they had agreed to hold a meeting, with the UPC faction led by Otunnu to resolve their differences.
He however said that they asked Otunnu to commit himself in writing, before the meeting takes place. Josepg Bossa, the UPC Vice President said the planned meeting between the two factions was mediated by a senior party elder Zaverio Byabagambi from Kyenjojo district. The Rurangaranga faction said their planned delegates’ conference set for Sunday- 27th May 2012 shall go on as planned if Otunnu does not meet write to them.
Bossa says no such letter will come from Otunnu.
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Bossa says the Otunnu leadership is willing to meet Rurangaranga but not under any pre-conditions to discuss party affairs. He insists the planned delegate’s meeting organized by the rival group scheduled for Sunday is null and void since it is not within the party constitution.
He says their doors are still open to discuss an open agenda regarding party affairs with the Rurangaranga faction. But they should not expect any letters nor set up ultimatums from Otunnu.
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The planned meeting is supposed to discuss and call for the sitting of the national council which shall then decide when a delegate’s conference can be held and its agenda. Otunnu is under pressure to hold the delegates conference by former party presidential candidates who fault him for misleading the party.
They believe holding the delegates conference shall lead to his disposal as party president after in house elections are held.
