Josephine Maseruka
3 January 2009
Kampala — OPPOSITION political parties have vowed to work as a team to force the Electoral Commission (EC) to conduct the grassroots local council elections.
Democratic Party (DP) president Ssebaana Kizito yesterday said: "We are more than ready for those elections. The Government must avail the money because we pay taxes. Does the Government expect money to fall from heaven?"
Ssebaana noted that without legitimate village and parish local council committees under a multiparty system, there cannot be grassroots politics. Other opposition party leaders concurred with Ssebaana, arguing that the expired local council committees do not represent political parties.
EC chairman Eng. Badru Kiggundu said sh25b is needed for the local council polls. The money does not include elections of youth and women councils.
Many political parties will this year focus on recruiting more youth and women into their parties, in preparation for the 2011 national elections.
Parties like the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), DP and the Conservative Party (CP), which had delayed to hold their delegates' conferences, are set to hold them soon.
CP president general Ken Lukyamuzi said the party's newly-inaugurated 35-member board would ensure that Young Conservatives' branches exist in all tertiary institutions to enable them reach every corner of Uganda in order to identify the possible parliamentary candidates for 2011 elections.
Lukyamuzi said the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) recently convened and resolved to seek an explanation from Chief Justice Benjamin Odoki on why it has taken three years for court to hear his petition for a legal explanation of his removal from Parliament. The Inspector General of Government, Justice Faith Mwondha, ordered Lukyamuzi's removal from Parliament for not declaring his wealth as demanded by the Leadership Code Act.
Deputy NRM spokesman Ofwono Opondo said unless there is an emergency, they will follow the same programme of a delegates' conference in February and the fortnightly meetings of the central executive committee of 24 members.
Ofwono explained that the NEC will approve the appointment of the NRM secretariat and directors as per the party's constitution.
He explained that the NRM secretariat will have powers to conduct fundraising activities for its members and to initiate developmental programmes.
Ofwono added that in mid-term they will be evaluating the implementation of the President's manifesto and accordingly advise NEC.
FDC spokesperson Wafula Oguttu said that the delegates' conference will be held from February 11 to 13. He said the party would follow its usual programmes, although he admitted that in some areas, the party is behind schedule.
Jaberi Bidandi Ssali of the People's Progressive Party said they would establish party branches at parish level across the country. He said they had so far been established in 62 districts although not at the parish level.
Emphasis, he added, would be on mobilising youths into vibrant leagues.
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