I am still perturbed about the forthcoming talks if it ever takes place. We are being told that the National Council has already given it a blessing. I have two questions which I hope the leadership of UPC will give me the answer.
The first question is who initiated the talks? Was it NRM government or the UPC leadership? Secondly what does the talk aim to achieve? In my opinion before any talks can take place the general membership of the Party should be consulted so that they can give in their input. I saw something on UPC net where the Party President asked members to give their input. I only hope this is being done at the grass root level as well. Secondly the members should also be informed about the agenda. No excuse should be given that the agenda is secret.
The membership of the Party should realise that any secret dealings between the NRM government and UPC Party is not possible. The present politics in Uganda these days is rotten to the core. I was in Uganda for the last five months and I saw it with my own eyes.
The politics of Uganda got spoilt with the advent of the Okellos’ coup. The coming in of Yoweri Kaguta Museveni made it worse. It has been politics of the gun throughout though it has been disguised with some sham elections. What I saw is quite appalling. The NRM has introduced money game in the politics of Uganda. Most political positions go to those who have money. The days where people were voted in by the electorate based on ideas are gone.
In that type of scenario what type of talks can you hold with NRM government concerning democratic practices in Uganda. If the UPC Party leadership care for return of normal politics in Uganda it should be calling for a National Dialogue where all Ugandan can be consulted and they can give their opinion about the type of democracy they want. Anything short of that will not do. The leadership should not take people for a ride by comparing the present Uganda situation with that of British government and Sinn Fien in Northern Ireland some years back. That was totally a different scenario.
The leadership should also stop telling us that because we are not on the ground we do not know the situation as much as they do. They should realise that in this modern age of technology information is at the finger tips of those who care to look for it. Some of us have up to date information on what is taking place in Uganda by the minute.
John Ojok-Akona
UPC Member London
Ugandans-At-Heart 