6 years, 8 months ago
I love the New DP. @Vicent Mayanja do you copy? Our war plan is working. We set the tune and others dance. Now everybody is dancing to our tune. Thousands of comments about our resurgence. Character assassins shooting blanks at us. We are steel clad. We have become agenda setters. The party previously seen as a party of subcontractors has undergone an unprecedented rebirth. Uganda Democratic Party lived to overtake UPC, DP withstood the terror of 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 2000s! Uganda Democratic Party will not just survive. DP will prevail!But what did I want to say? Well, here it is:
I’m baffled by Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) these days. Their strategy has not worked but ignoring the results, they insist on it after four failed attempts. I read somewhere that madness means doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.
I have really struggled not to say anything about Forum for Democratic Change , but let me just say that FDC is now a Weapon of Self Destruction!
I am sorry I now tend to reluctantly agree with those who once said FDC stands for “Forum for Delaying Change”. That is, change must not come until the 50 year plan crafted by Luwero Bush conquerors for total domination of Uganda has been achieved.
The rejectionist attitude of FDC that everyone else is wrong except them and everyone is impure except them demoralised their President Mugisha Muntu and other key leaders and forced them to leave and form ANT! Now they want to turn Robert Kyagulanyi into a ball to kick around in their game of political ping pong. They want to turn him from their target to a tool. In addition, they are aware of the new awakening in the Democratic Party and instead of investing in healing their injuries the way DP is doing in order to form a block capable of being part of a meaningful alliance, they have declared war on DP, its leaders and even new recruits. They have deployed an army of cyber mercenaries within DP to discredit whatever DP does. Needless to say, that strategy has not worked in the past and will not work today. DP is stronger than it was. A briefcase party dominated by a megalomaniac surrounded by a clique of lumpen elites cannot just roll over a 65 year old party founded on real values.
DP was founded to fight for democracy, rule of law, constitutionalism and social justice. DP was founded for a reason, not a season. In the spirit of Nelson Mandela who said he fought against black domination and against white domination, DP cannot fight hegemony in government and tolerate it in the opposition.
But here is my main point. No struggle can succeed if secondary contradictions such us that among democracy seeking forces take centre stage and the primary contradiction between the decadent Yoweri Museveni regime and the people of Uganda is shoved aside. Those working for change must start from a viewpoint that the struggle is not primarily a struggle for political office. It is a liberation struggle. To reduce the struggle to a struggle for office is an insult to the Ugandan people. That is the reason TDA was effectively undermined by office seekers.
The struggle against the Yoweri Museveni regime, whose pillars were built by those currently lecturing us on how to oppose Museveni, was spearheaded by DP and Uganda People’s Congress. Under the INTER POLITICAL FORCES COOPERATION (IPFC), Dr. Ssemogerere challenged Yoweri Museveni in 1996 and gave voice to millions of Ugandans tired of NRM’s oppressive policies and warmongering. In 2001 Dr. Ssemogerere endorsed Kizza Besigye who was still fresh from his brilliant career as Yoweri Museveni’s bush doctor, chief Ideologue of the NRM anti-organisation philosophy, and a militarist who even opposed peace talks in Northern Uganda and the reinstatement of traditional institution and their assets (ebyaffe). DP and UPC ignored these and focused on the bigger struggle and embraced all who renounced Musevenism. Now those we embrace say we shouldn’t embrace those who have repented! They want an Utopian zero sum game. To achieve that they have launched the most uncivil war within opposition ranks.
The biggest failure of any struggle is to fail to identify the true enemy. That seems to be the main failing of Uganda’s opposition today. With all their education, sophistication and modern tools at their disposal, they have failed to concentrate their fire on Yoweri Museveni and are instead shooting at each other.
If our ancestors, Rwot Awich of Acholi, Omukama Kabalega and Kabaka Mwanga had not correctly identified colonialism as the primary enemy, their secondary historical differences would have distracted them. Because they defined the enemy correctly, they turned to each other rather than on each other. The Ugandan opposition should learn from these heroes of anti colonial resistance.
Not all storms come to destroy. Some storms come to clear the way. I think the current storm in the opposition is clearing the way for DP. This is a season for storm riders.
uganda.uk.com
A COMPREHENSIVE STATEMENT BY DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADERSHIP ON PEOPLE POWER'S TEAM OF COORDINATORS
Statement of Guidance by DP President Norbert Mao to DP Bloc membersWe have followed with interest the debates going on concerning prospects for a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) bringing together all democracy seeking forces with the aim of ousting the Museveni regime. The DP Bloc has developed a comprehensive framework for such a vehicle and believes it is the only answer to the citizen’s outcry for change. Our people want us to unite and we must not let them down.
The starting point is for all the individual leaders and political parties to get organised. That was the reason we launched the UYD/DP Reunion to reconcile and unify our party. That is why we reached out to the SDP and the PDP and together we have consolidated the DP Bloc. The DP Bloc is based on a clear Memorandum of Understanding developed after amicable talks by the parties. The entire process and the outcome received a unanimous endorsement from the National Executive Committee of the party and the broad membership.
We believe that there’s no alternative to a united front for change. We must also demonstrate that we have learnt the lessons of past attempts at coalition building by the opposition. So far all leaders in the opposition have proclaimed a desire for togetherness. However togetherness will not come by mere rhetoric. Our togetherness must be focused on the overarching and imperative goal of transition of power and must also be a win-win for everyone involved.
We have been having closed door talks with the aim of building a big-tent and all embracing People Power coalition of the willing. As a party we believe that People Power is a clarion call to unify citizens groaning under the whip of a common oppressor. We must all grow to the size of its liberating message, aspiration and promise. We must resist the temptation to subject it to individual aspirations for office at the expense of its long term purpose as a vehicle for liberation.
When the Democratic Party launched the popular campaign known as “Togikwatako” to resist the rape of the constitution we told Ugandans of all walks of life that Togikwatako is an idea whose ownership is collective. We resisted every temptation to create a formal structure for it. The broad masses of Ugandans embraced the campaign. Our Members of Parliament took it a step further by giving it the colour red as an identity signifying our willingness to shed our blood in defence of human rights, democracy, rule of law and constitutionalism.
That is what made Tigikwatako the most potent popular campaign since Walk To Work. We also recall that the moment Walk To Work took shape under a formal organisation, the Museveni regime promptly moved to outlaw the organisation by declaring it an unlawful society. The leaders were targeted with blackmail, bribes and intimidation.
Since the announcement of what is in reality a presidential campaign team (named People Power Coordination Team) by the Hon. Robert Kyagulanyi who is a Presidential Aspirant, there has been uncoordinated statements from those who by all accounts believe in change and most of whom are adherents of Hon. Kyagulanyi who many of us see as a viable presidential candidate.
In his interview aired in 12th June, 2019 by France24 TV, Hon. Kyagulanyi said the following in response to a question about the selection of a joint Opposition Presidential Flag-bearer: “We are yet to arrive at the final decision. We are trying to build synergies. We are bringing together all forces of change so that we go into the race when we are more united than ever before. Yes, we have spoken and we are many contenders. Anyone among us will be chosen and blessed to lead us. And I am saying it that should the team choose me to lead them, I am equally ready to challenge the guy (Mr Museveni).”
The appointment of members and leaders of partner political parties to his presidential campaign team is contrary to this spirit which he articulated in that interview. That move has put many political parties and leaders in an awkward position. One can now imagine a situation where a party like DP, FDC, UPC or JEEMA holding talks with Hon. Kyagulanyi and find that some of their members and leaders are seated behind Kyagulanyi. This picture presents a fait accompli which is contrary to the spirit of building a togetherness based on a transparent and an accountable process.
In his remarks at the launch of his People Power Coordination Team, Kyagulanyi decried the death of institutions at the expense of individualism. He said “Instead of big institutions, in Uganda, we have a big personality, something People Power wants to rectify by returning this power to the people, empowering and strengthening institutions so that they can deliver to the people of Uganda…”
As the DP Bloc we remain committed to a People Power that resonates with everyone and that makes everyone a winner including those fleeing from the ruling party. We also recognised from the start the immense leadership potential of Hon. Kyagulanyi and that is why we have offered him an open platform across the country and will continue to do so. Through this we have built a special bond and a higher level of trust. We believe that reducing the big idea of People Power to a campaign team in pursuit of a presidential ambition threatens cohesiveness and stability within the opposition parties that have built People Power. As DP we note that our members and leaders constitute the backbone of People Power. In fact Kyagulanyi and DP form the heart of People Power.
It is unfortunate that a very emotive debate, most of which is being fuelled by our detractors is raging on Social Media. Until we agree on a mechanisms that respond rapidly to political developments, events, disputes, misunderstandings, and mechanisms that help our people interpret and understand what is going on we shall always have diversionary reactive debates.
It is now obvious that many irrespective of political allegiance envisaged People Power as an Umbrella organisation under whose wings Ugandans would pursue the common goal of ousting the Museveni regime. They never once expected it to be fenced in by any individual.
The turbulence we are witnessing will become even more intense as the regional coordinators take on the task of appointing coordinators for lower level structures. Naturally they will start by recruiting members from their own political parties. In the absence of a collectively agreed People Power framework as a Special Purpose Vehicle, the resultant chaos will breed acrimony and interfere with the internal by political parties to build structures as they head to their delegates conferences. Leaders will have divided loyalties as they have to build People Power structures and also the structures of their parties. They will face the dilemma of having to serve two masters. In the absence of an agreed overarching framework they risk receiving conflicting instructions from their party Headquarters and also from Magere! That is a scenario which will weaken the pursuit of the common cause and will play straight into the manipulative hand of the Museveni regime.
Nevertheless, we believe that we can in a proactive manner and collectively as leaders take the steps to quickly build a People Power that represents a new consensus aimed at opposition unity. As President of DP I have excellent personal relations with Hon. Kyagulanyi and we regularly speak on the idea of a united front. I am also in touch with the FDC, ANT, UPC and JEEMA. This is the time to scale up this process of building a framework that reflect the diversity of our country.
I believe that in due course there will be agreement and we shall select a single flag bearer anchored by top level leaders from the four regions and supported by others from all sub-regions, districts, constituencies, sub counties, parishes and villages. That is the desirable and inclusive People Power structure that we need to build together.
Accordingly I make the following announcements:
1. On Monday 29th July, 2019, we shall hold a meeting of the top leadership of DP together with the Members of Parliament and the Political Action Committee of the DP Bloc to discuss how to scale up coalition talks with other parties and individuals.
2. I have also scheduled a meeting with Hon. Kyagulanyi immediately after the internal meeting of the DP Bloc to discuss our plans for a broader coalition. Thereafter, we shall present to FDC, ANT, UPC, JEEMA the framework for a Special Purpose Vehicle which was announced last week.We recognise the right of everyone to choose to belong or not to belong to an organisation and we defend it vigorously. We also believe that it is the duty of those who belong to an organisation to abide by the rules and values of that organisation. We insist that People Power is an umbrella for change and should be built in an inclusive manner by all stakeholders. We shall issue further directions to our members after the consultative meeting with top leaders and MPs. In the meantime , we don’t expect any of our leaders particularly at the grassroots to deal with any one purporting to be Coordinator of People Power until a formal pact is reached between DP and all other political actors. We cannot allow other people to dig their foundation in our compound without a negotiated settlement properly reached.
//Signed//
Norbert Mao
President General, DP
For and on behalf of the DP Blocuganda.uk.com
Building Unity among Democracy seeking Forces in Uganda
Brick by brick, we will build unity among the democracy seeking forces in Uganda. We do this knowing that the political fault-line is not between the so called opposition and the Museveni regime, but rather between the haves and have-nots, the dispossessed and those who have disinherited them.We’re talking with all democracy seeking forces. Our proposals for a framework for a Special Purpose Vehicle (by whatever name called) to unite Ugandans who desire change, has been warmly welcomed by all including those who were unable to attend yesterday’s presentation. We have agreed to present the framework to them as soon as possible.
Next steps include the urgent declaration of our position on minimum reforms before the next elections. This doesn’t require the SPV as a precondition.
Below are the remarks I delivered at the presentation.
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REMARKS BY DP PRESIDENT GENERAL NORBERT MAO ON THE OCCASION OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE DRAFT FRAMEWORK OF A PROPOSED SPECIAL PURPOSE VEHICLE (SPV) AIMED AT UNITING ALL DEMOCRACY SEEKING FORCES
VENUE: PROTEA HOTEL, BOARDROOM 3
TIME: 9:00 – 11:30 AM
DATE: 23 AUGUST, 2019
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For several months the Democratic Party has been working tirelessly to develop a comprehensive framework for a united front to present a viable alternative to the failing State presided over by the NRM. That work is now complete and we wish to announce that we are ready to share this framework with other democracy seeking forces for discussion. It is our expectation that we will agree on a Special Purpose Vehicle(SPV) to lead the charge for democratic change in our country.
The majority of Ugandans now agree that President Museveni and his junta have no political will to democratise Uganda. Therefore the Democratic Party Bloc, aware that at a time of political crisis, reaching out across the political divide is not only a sign of political maturity but also a commitment to bring out the best in all of us, resolved to develop a framework for a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). The SPV will be open to all democracy seeking forces and its objective is meaningful democratic reforms to ensure free and fair elections, an inclusive national dialogue and a new basis for political transition NOW. Elections have degenerated into a meaningless ritual and there’s no reason to pretend that 2021 will be any different unless the rules of engagement are overhauled.
We need to rescue the Ugandan State from Musevenism. The Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) is about dismantling the repressive and predatory military, political and economic machine which props up the regime and also dismantle the mindset of fear and hopelessness in the populace. This intense struggle by the Ugandan masses cannot fail if based on unity of the democracy seeking forces and a concrete program for transition into a Uganda beyond Museveni. The aim of the plan is to restore a renewed sense of ownership of the country to all citizens.
Through the SPV, we believe that we can coalesce into a common front that transcends our narrow confines and unleash the power of the people. Under a common banner the contradictions within our ranks will be resolved in order to free us to resolve the primary contradiction between the Museveni regime and the Ugandan masses. Our unity will grow as we struggle for a common cause. Unity will be forged in the crucible of struggle. Our unity will also tap into the unprecedented surge in the political participation of young people.
I welcome you to this initial presentation on the proposed SPV by the the DP Bloc. The presentation will be made by a technical team led by Mr. Henry Kasacca. In addition we will present a detailed Discussion Paper on the things to take into account as we craft a formidable alternative to a dying regime. Intense closed door consultations and discussions will follow to build harmony. We believe that the promotion of the SPV has to be as inclusive as possible. We have committed to presenting this draft framework to as many groups and entities as possible with the aim of ensuring collective ownership of the SPV.
It is our expectation that the SPV shall be formally launched before the end of 2019 and at its helm will be political leaders with the credentials to offer strategic leadership to a country in crisis.
uganda.uk.com
I love the New DP. @Vicent Mayanja do you copy? Our war plan is working. We set the tune and others dance. Now everybody is dancing to our tune. Thousands of co
Statement of Guidance by DP President Norbert Mao to DP Bloc members
Brick by brick, we will build unity among the democracy seeking forces in Uganda. We do this knowing that the political fault-line is not between the so called opposition and the Museveni regime, but rather between the haves and have-nots, the dispossessed and those who have disinherited them.You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
