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Opposition must not fight for one seat - Ssemogerere
In attendance. ANT president Mugisha Muntu (3nd left), Kyadondo East Member of Parliament Robert Kyagulanyi, join hands during the DP-UYD meeting in Jinja District on Wednesday. PHOTO BY TAUS NAKATO
What you need to know:
- The DP president, Mr Nobert Mao, urged Ugandans to leave the issues of presidency to party presidents, adding that after overthrowing the sitting government, the in-coming leader will rule for only one term because it will be a temporary position.
Jinja. The former Democratic Party (DP) President, Mr Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere, has warned Opposition politicians against fighting for one seat if they are to liberate this country.
Mr Ssemogerere was on Wednesday addressing a gathering that turned up for the DP-UYD (Uganda Young Democrats) reunion meeting at Kakindu Stadium in Jinja District.
In early February, Opposition politicians from DP, Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC0, People’s Development Party (PDP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Justice Forum (JEEMA), The Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) and People Power group while in Jinja, announced their partnership with DP in what was termed as a ‘One-to-One’ model ahead of the 2021 General Election.
The strategy, according to the promoters (the new DP bloc), will enable them support and campaign for one Opposition candidate against a National Resistance Movement candidate for numerous electoral positions.
Mr Ssemogerere said the Opposition must be united to avoid being defeated in the next election.
“There has been a problem countrywide; when aspirants from the Opposition compete for one seat, it gives the ruling NRM party an opportunity to overstay in power,’’ he said.
The PDP president, Dr Abed Bwanika, said: “We shall not allow those who say they will only work with us on other positions and not Presidency, claiming they want a sole candidate for the presidency while other regions will share the position of vice president, prime minister and speaker.’’
The Kyadondo East MP, Mr Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine), said the Opposition cannot be defeated if it is united, adding that countries where the Opposition is divided have lost elections.
“The president of Malawi won by 30 per cent because the Opposition was not united. When we are divided, fighting and abusing each other, we give Mr Museveni an opportunity to stay in power. We have to put party differences aside if we are to liberate this country,’’ he said.
The ANT party president, Maj Gen Mugisha Muntu, said all Opposition parties should focus on strengthening their party structures if they are to take power.
The DP president, Mr Nobert Mao, urged Ugandans to leave the issues of presidency to party presidents, adding that after overthrowing the sitting government, the in-coming leader will rule for only one term because it will be a temporary position.
Although the function was organised by DP, it was overwhelmed by People Power supporters, who donned red attire and sung songs associated to their pressure group.
