Prime
Court sets date for UPC case
UPC President Olara Ottunu. His five-year term ended last month before he called the council meeting. PHOTO BY joseph Kiggundu.
The High Court in Kampala will on Monday begin hearing a petition seeking to compel the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) national council to convene.
Two party members say Mr Olara Otunnu’s term as the UPC president ended on March 13, before the Council met.
The petitioners, Oyam South MP Betty Amongi and Kole MP Fred Ebil say this is against the party constitution. It is the national council that should approve UPC’s annual work plan, budget, policies and procedures.
“All we are demanding is for the national council to meet, which will set the agenda for the delegates conference,” Mr David Pulkol, a member of UPC, said at a press conference at Parliament on Friday.
Not enough time?
Mr James Akena, the Lira Municipality MP, said the party does not have enough time to put its house in order given that the next general election is eleven months away.
The two officials, who are aspiring for the UPC leadership, would have to first contest in the party’s primaries in order to stand for the national presidency.
In March last year, Mr Mahmoud Gazimbiraine and Mr Sospater Akwenyu, both delegates of the party, petitioned court and secured an order to stop UPC leaders from performing any functions without the council’s approval.
However, by the time Mr Otunnu’s five-year term ended last month, he had not yet called the council meeting.
