In short
After three weeks of intense discussions, opposition politicians under The Democratic Alliance says it has failed to agree on a single presidential candidate for the 2016 election.
The Democratic Alliance (TDA) Summit on Wednesday night failed to reach consensus on a joint opposition presidential candidate to contest against President Yoweri Museveni in the 2016 elections.
The TDA Protocol provides that a joint candidate will be arrived at by consensus.
However, after three weeks of intense discussions and lobbying by different candidates, the alliance announced last night that it had failed to decide between former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi and Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential flag bearer Dr. Kizza Besigye.
The contenders had earlier been tasked to agree among themselves but this approach also failed as each aspirant, fronted himself as the best option for the post of joint opposition flag bearer in 2016.
TDA says in a press statement that the Conservative Party (CP) and FDC endorsed the candidature of Dr. Kizza Besigye while the Democratic Party (DP), Go-Forward, People's Progressive Party (PPP), Uganda Federal Alliance (UFA) and Olara Otunnu's Uganda People's Congress (UPC) endorsed the candidature of Amama Mbabazi.
JEEMA and former Vice President Gilbert Bukenya's Pressure for National Unity (PNU) did not record their preference since JEEMA president, Asuman Basalirwa and PNU leader Gilbert Bukenya, were not present at the time of the decision.
TDA spokesperson Wafula Oguttu says each member of the alliance will now chose a candidate to back. The two aspirants shall use their party symbols during campaigns.
UPC's Olara Otunnu says members had to recognise that their approaches were different despite efforts to work together.
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DP President Nobert Mao, who was one of the contender but later opted out of the race in favour of Mbabazi, says fronting Mbabazi and Besigye, could be interpreted as subjecting the two aspirant to primary elections.
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FDC President Mugisha Muntu says despite failure to agree on a single candidate, the Opposition will continue to coordinate its efforts towards regime change.
He revealed that the FDC did not back Amama Mbabazi's candidature because their readings of the current political situation are different.
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Conservative Party (CP) President John Ken Lukyamuzi says his party voted for Besigye because Mbabazi's Go-Forward pressure group lacks structures and a constitution.
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Go-Forward's Hope Mwesigye welcomed the idea of fronting two candidates, saying it would cause regime change.
Meanwhile the TDA Summit is expected to meet once again to consider the fielding joint candidates for parliamentary, Local Council and Mayoral positions.
The TDA Protocol provides that a joint candidate will be arrived at by consensus.
However, after three weeks of intense discussions and lobbying by different candidates, the alliance announced last night that it had failed to decide between former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi and Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential flag bearer Dr. Kizza Besigye.
The contenders had earlier been tasked to agree among themselves but this approach also failed as each aspirant, fronted himself as the best option for the post of joint opposition flag bearer in 2016.
TDA says in a press statement that the Conservative Party (CP) and FDC endorsed the candidature of Dr. Kizza Besigye while the Democratic Party (DP), Go-Forward, People's Progressive Party (PPP), Uganda Federal Alliance (UFA) and Olara Otunnu's Uganda People's Congress (UPC) endorsed the candidature of Amama Mbabazi.
JEEMA and former Vice President Gilbert Bukenya's Pressure for National Unity (PNU) did not record their preference since JEEMA president, Asuman Basalirwa and PNU leader Gilbert Bukenya, were not present at the time of the decision.
TDA spokesperson Wafula Oguttu says each member of the alliance will now chose a candidate to back. The two aspirants shall use their party symbols during campaigns.
UPC's Olara Otunnu says members had to recognise that their approaches were different despite efforts to work together.
//Cue in: "and the…
Cue out:…target"//
DP President Nobert Mao, who was one of the contender but later opted out of the race in favour of Mbabazi, says fronting Mbabazi and Besigye, could be interpreted as subjecting the two aspirant to primary elections.
//Cue in: "I think….
Cue out:…choice"//
FDC President Mugisha Muntu says despite failure to agree on a single candidate, the Opposition will continue to coordinate its efforts towards regime change.
He revealed that the FDC did not back Amama Mbabazi's candidature because their readings of the current political situation are different.
//Cue in: "we are…
Cue out:…objective"//
Conservative Party (CP) President John Ken Lukyamuzi says his party voted for Besigye because Mbabazi's Go-Forward pressure group lacks structures and a constitution.
English
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Luganda
//Cue in: "njagala…
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Go-Forward's Hope Mwesigye welcomed the idea of fronting two candidates, saying it would cause regime change.
Meanwhile the TDA Summit is expected to meet once again to consider the fielding joint candidates for parliamentary, Local Council and Mayoral positions.
