Kampala — Under the August 1970 Uganda Peoples Congress constitution, the delegates conference elects the party president who serves a seven-year renewable term of office. The president in turn nominates the different central executive office bearers of the party. On March 6, UPC will hold its long awaited delegates conference after overcoming a court injunction. In spite of the internal conflict, all seems set for the day. The party's national conference held a fortnight ago resolved that elections for the party president be held immediately.

The National Council of the UPC that sat at Christ the King conference hall last week resolved that the UPC holds its Annual Delegates Conference (ADC) within two weeks to elect a new party president and instructed the Milton Obote Foundation to avail money to the party headquarters to enable it hold the function.

The National Council also resolved that the composition of the ADC to elect the party president shall include members of the ADC of 2005, one youth and one woman elected by the parliamentary constituency conference.

The UPC leadership meeting to review the decision of the National Council and how to implement it decided that the party develops a road map for convening the delegates conference. The National Council decided that the parliamentary constituency conference that was formed in 2005 be convened to elect the youth and the woman representatives to the delegates conference. The National Council acts as the party's parliament and its decisions are binding on all organs of the party.

The decision to elect the new party president comes after the UPC president Miria Obote revoked a suspension of the party's four senior members who had been accused of insubordination. Following their suspension, the four accused members petitioned court which issued an injunction restraining the party from holding any elections until the dispute had been resolved. Last month the National Council settled the dispute and the suspension was lifted, thereby allowing the party to plan for elections. There are 9 members aspiring for the UPC party presidency. Yona Kanyomozi, UPC National Chairman; Joseph Ochieno, who heads the UPC London branch; Olara Otunnu, former UN Undersecretary; Sospater Akwenyu, a teacher and Jimmy Akena, MP for Lira Municipality.

Others are: Sam Luwero, a businessman; Henry Mayega, a party administrator; Dr Opul, a medical doctor in private practice and Patrick Mwondha, the UPC National Treasurer.

Each is required to pay Shs2 million as nomination fees.

Commenting on the significance of such a high number of aspirants for the party's top seat, Chris Opoka Okumu, the UPC Secretary General, said it was good for the party. "It is healthy to have competition within the party. The UPC constitution says anyone who is a member of the party can stand for any elective office. We cannot stop any candidate from competing for any party office," Opoka said. It's among the nine that the delegates conference will elect the party's flag bearer. "Should there be a tie up in votes, another election will be held to determine who leads the party and everyone will have to rally behind the elected party president," UPC is the second oldest party in the country after the Democratic Party and has twice ruled the country. However because of the infighting, the party has twice been overthrown by its own army.