26 November 2009
editorial
Factionalism within one of Uganda's oldest political parties and street fights have reached embarrassing levels. The fights on Tuesday after a court hearing over the Democratic Party's delegates' conference and grassroots elections leave many would-be supporters wondering whether DP and its leadership know exactly where their party is headed or which direction they want to take it.
While principled disagreements and internal debates are healthy for democracy to thrive in any political party, the fights in DP have long crossed that line.
DP feared to join the inter party cooperation claiming that the other parties had designs to swallow it but the ugly truth emerging is that the party is in deep confusion and needs urgent self re-examination if it still hopes to play a role in national political governance.
DP cannot, and should not, delude itself that the drama they are playing out on the streets and at press conferences does not affect their support base and the goodwill of other Ugandans.
Running to court over even matters the party should have handled through its structures is not only financially wasteful but also takes the party away from planning and growing.
Unfortunately, DP is not alone in its internal troubles. The Uganda People's Congress (UPC), another premiere party founded before independence, also cannot hold its delegates conference and elect new leaders to start on a journey to the next elections because it battling an injunction.
In failing to resolve what might actually be simple disagreements in their parties, old political parties like DP and the UPC fail to realise that they alienate potential supporters and increase fears that they cannot be trusted with the bigger responsibilities of running a country.
It is important that both DP and other opposition parties realise that the basic requirement for them to aspire to national leadership beyond bad laws, harassment from the incumbent government and other complaints they have always raised, is internal organisation and clarity of purpose.
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