Diasporan Ugandans form pressure group

Customers queue up for services in Stanbic Bank at Cham Towers, Kampala. File Photo.

By Stephen Wandera

Posted  Tuesday, August 27  2013 at  11:43

In Summary

The group’s leadership includes the renegade UPDF colonel, Samson Mande. Government spokesperson calls them “hopeless fellows.”

Kampala - Ugandans living in the diaspora have formed a pressure group to lobby the international community to push government to respect the rule of law and human rights.

In an email to Daily Monitor, the Interim Chairman of Uganda Diaspora Europe (UDE) Joel Wakayima said the group aims at drastic changes for the good of all Ugandans.

"We are exerting more pressure on leaders and bureaucrats in the Kampala regime. They have to respect the rule of law and human rights of the individual and groups irrespective of their ethnic background, tribe or status as enshrined in both local and international legal instruments," Mr Wakayima said.

 The email further read: "Ugandans living in Europe have decided to reorganize themselves into a vibrant, aggressive organization. We are now capable and ready to engage the international community on matters to do with the social, economic and political emancipation of Uganda. We plan to organize annual congress for all the Uganda Diaspora in Europe and all continents, where Ugandans can freely exchange ideas to push
 Uganda government for better change. We will also showcase our development initiatives and innovations.”

According to Wakayima, the group’s leadership consists of Col. Samson Mande, Forum for Democratic Change envoy Makoha Stephen, Stephen Mwasi, Kizito Abey, Edrine Kalungi and Paddy Katumba.

Col. Samson Mande deserted the Uganda army in 20001 and fled to Rwanda. He has always been accused of starting the shadowy rebel group, People’s Redemption Army. Mande currently lives in exile in Sweden.

Wakayima says "our group is a patriotic; we do not want Uganda to go Syria way. There should is need for dialogue. If President Museveni does not listen to us, we will engage international community to pressure government to listen to us if means cutting aid then it should be curtail President Museveni's rule".

When contacted, Media Centre boss Ofwono Opondo rubbished the capability of the pressure group. "They are not in Uganda; they are in Europe. They can go ahead. These are hopeless fellows. What can Mande do?"