Akena rejects alliance
KAMPALA.
Jimmy Akena’s UPC faction has rejected joining The Democratic Alliance (TDA) ahead of the 2016 general elections.
During the party’s faction national council meeting in Kampala at the weekend, Lira Municipality MP Jimmy Akena and his group voted on participating in TDA by show of hands. Final results showed that 359 delegates rejected the Opposition alliance, two accepted to take part while 40 abstained from the proceedings.
TDA was formed in June by Opposition political parties and other activists to challenge President Museveni and the ruling NRM in the forthcoming 2016 general elections and all other polls.
But Mr Akena told journalists that taking part in the alliance might be a big challenge because most political parties, including UPC are in a re- building phase that is demanding to pave way for its future existence as a vibrant party.
“Apparently UPC and other political parties can claim to have membership, structures organs and constitution at least, but at this stage, TDA has no membership of her own and this might lead to loss of party identities,” Mr Akena said.
He added that they resolved not to get involved with TDA but will engage at a strategic level because they cannot completely disassociate themselves from the protocol.
Mr Micheal Osinde, the Akena UPC faction spokesperson, said they can only work with TDA on condition that Mr Akena is the flagbearer.
“Short of that, we do not agree,” Mr Osinde said.
However, party vice president, of Otunnu-led UPC, Mr Joseph Bossa, said the Opposition will never get into power if the current Electoral Commission is not reconstituted. In 2010 Democratic party and UPC rejected to join Inter-party coalition to field a sole opposition flag bear.
