What Amama Mbabazi says led to TDA fallout

Former prime minister Amama Mbabazi addresses the press at TDA offices in Naguru, Kampala on Friday. PHOTO by Abubaker Lubowa. 

By Frederic Musisi & Nelson Wesong

Kampala.

Former prime minister Amama Mbabazi, who was announced yesterday as the candidate chosen by majority of The Democratic Alliance (TDA) members, has asked three-time presidential candidate and FDC flag bearer Dr Kizza Besigye to back him.

Addressing journalists at the TDA offices in Naguru yesterday, Mr Mbabazi said the doors for cooperation with Dr Besigye and, or any other individual for what he described as a “common goal”, are still open.

He was flanked by several Opposition leaders, including Uganda People’s Congress [UPC] President Olara Otunnu, Democratic Party (DP) President Norbert Mao and DP secretary general Mathias Nsubuga. Others were representatives from other political parties, including Peoples Progressive Party, Uganda Federal Alliance and his Go Forward-Pro-change group, and TDA summit members.

Mr Nsubuga, explained that Mr Mbabazi’s candidature had been endorsed by seven out of the nine formations of the TDA. Only two dissented, Dr Besigye’s FDC and John Ken Lukyamuzi’s CP.

Bishop Zac Niringiye, the head of TDA secretariat, while introducing Amama Mbabazi’s candidature before the media yesterday, said they had endorsed him as their presidential candidate by consensus. Bishop Niringiye had earlier in the morning issued a statement in the presence of Dr Besigye that said TDA had not arrived at a consensus to field a joint candidate.

Mr Mathias Nsubuga, the DP secretary general and part of the team unveiling Mr Mbabazi’s bid, said Mr Mbabazi had been endorsed by majority of TDA members, not by consensus as the TDA protocol provides.

The DP President, Mr Norbert Mao said: “The times and the task at hand require a leader who can cause change. It is clear that the leader who can cause change is none other than Amama Mbabazi. We have no right to deny Ugandans the opportunity to cause change by not supporting Amama Mbabazi.”

He said they respect the dissenting voices of FDC party and Conservative Party, but added that they would work hard to ensure all the forces that want to remove President Museveni from power find their way back to the original objectives of TDA, with or without TDA”.

The objective is the unity of all democratic forces and electoral victory in 2016. That would entail fronting of joint or single candidate for the presidency, parliamentary seats and local council positions, Mr Mao said.

What next?
“Let us leave the quarrels of the past behind in favour of unity, not a unity based on sameness but a unity borne of pragmatism, of shared vision for our beloved country Uganda,” Mr Mbabazi said.

“We will continue with the policy of engagement and hope they will fall in line with the majority of us.
We have a common purpose to oversee a peaceful transition of power and to build and secure a Uganda that works for everyone. Our primary focus must be on the future.

We owe it to the Ugandan people, particularly to the youth, to plan for a better future –because to quote one American politician, speaking about his country in 1984, ‘if this administration has a plan for a better future they are keeping it a secret’.”

Mr Mbabazi said there are about 15.7 million voters [the Electoral Commission says 15.2 million] many of who are desperate for change. All of them, he said, are worse off than they would have been had there been effective government, well–functioning public services, strong institutions and the rule of law.

“Of these [15.7 million], we would need just under 8 million to secure victory. This victory is not merely possible; it is within our grasp. With true unity, meticulous organisation, and a focus that is razor–sharp, we will win this election and fulfill our solemn duty to transform this country for good,” Mr Mbabazi said.