The Democratic Party has disowned Lubega Mukaaku, Sulaiman Kidandala, Kenneth Paul Kakande and others as members of the DP bloc.
The party noted that some of these self-seeking individuals whose trademark is indiscipline and opportunism once claimed that they had joined the National Unity Platform (NUP) as members of the DP bloc.
Opposition political parties in the country led by the Forum for Democratic Change yesterday formed a new pressure group named People’s Front for Transition (PFT) to be used to oust President Museveni from power.
During the launch held at the JEEMA headquarters in Mengo, Dr. Kizza Besigye was unveiled as the national chairperson and Kampala Lord Mayor as the first national deputy chairperson of the pressure group.
Political parties that append signatures to a new coalition front included FDC, UYD, CP, PPP, UPC Walubiri faction, DP bloc.
Parties that were absent include DP, UPC faction led by Jimmy Akena and the National Unity Platform led by Bobi Wine alias Robert Kyagulanyi.
In a statement the DP spokesperson Okoler Opio Lo Amanu said; “DP has noted with sadness, concern and amusement the attempt by one Kalinge Nyago and some former members of the Democratic Party namely Sam Lubega Mukaaku, Sulaiman Kidandala, Kenneth Paul Kakande, Vincent Mayanja and Christine Ikiria purporting to be leaders in Dr. Besigye’s People’s Front and claiming to be representing the DP Bloc,”
“We warned NUP about them and their disruptive tendencies. Fortunately, NUP distanced itself from them and even denied them their party ticket in the last elections. These are the individuals that undermined any attempt at cooperation between People Power/NUP and DP,” he said.
Okoler said that it is so shameful for these group of people to masquerade as representatives of the DP bloc, warning the People’s Front against allowing these individuals to claim any association with the DP Bloc.
“These politically stranded individuals are free to pursue efforts to resuscitate their failing political careers but DP will not allow them to do it at its expense. If indeed the People’s Front is honest in the pursuit of its stated objectives, then it should take our objections seriously,” he said.
He said these are the kind of manipulative manoeuvres that have undermined and continue to undermine the building of a viable coalition of democracy seeking forces that can create the leverage to bring about a democratic transition in Uganda.
“We expect that these individuals will be part of the People’s Front in their capacity but certainly not as DP Bloc. Claiming to have DP Bloc without DP is like claiming to have Christianity without Christ,” he said.
To avoid dying in its infancy, like previous similar initiatives, DP advised the People’s Front that they must form principled alliances and focus beyond the political ambitions of individuals,” he said.
