Addressing journalists at the party headquarters today, Akena confirms that this was reached upon following a retreat held last week which finally endorsed the cabinet appointment of Hon. Ruth Aceng and Hon. Betty Amongi to take up the cabinet posts where they were appointed.

He further explains that the party’s minimum agenda in this mix will address critical national issues that deal with health, education and agriculture coupled with spear heading talks between the NRM and the opposition as they look forward to transform Ugandans. He further clarifies that the arrest of one Dan Oola Oduya a UPC members in Gulu has no connections to the party since he had broken ranks with the UPC and decided to work for the Go Forward candidate adding that the matters currently surrounding Dan’s arrest are personal and not related to the party.

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The member of parliament for Masaka municipality Mathias Mpuuga said that Dr. Otunnu is still needed in Uganda politics since the country has few experienced and respected politicians. Mpuuga said that he will talk to him so as he changes his mind and remain around for non-elective politics to help the next generation to baby seat the country’s democracy. The woman Member of Parliament for Lira district Joy Atim Ongom said that Otunu should not quit politics over wrangles in UPC since there are always solutions to problems.

However, Maruzi Member of Parliament in Apac district Maxwel Akora said that though he exhibited good leadership at the beginning as the party president he was later selfish when he blocked the party successor Jimmy Akana to run the party.

A politician, diplomat, and lawyer, Otunnu has been President of UPC from 2010 to 2015. Otunnu ran in 2010 to succeed Miria Obote, wife of former President Milton Obote, as president of the UPC. He says that although he is leaving active politics UPC still needs him as its member. Otunnu succeeded Miria Obote, wife of former President Milton Obote, in 2010 as president of the UPC after defeating the now party president at UPC headquarters, Jimmy Akena,

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He said that in order to show that people that support Akena leadership are ready to welcome whoever comes to them they have left some major positions in the party to be occupied by those who lost during the elections that saw Akena becoming the president of the party.

Ebil said that if they don’t come back as leaders they will report back to Central executive committee which will take decision. Meanwhile Ebil says that Dr. Olara Otunnu is now a former president and therefore should leave the current leadership to do its work without interference

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Some of the leaders of the party, including MPs are bitter that the party bank account has over 500 million Uganda shillings lying idle but the party president, Olara Otunnu has never withdrawn it to fund party activities.

UPC President Olara Otunu

Otunnu in his capacity as the party president has to first sign on the cheque before the money given to UPC by the party members in the diaspora can be withdrawn. Some senior UPC members are bitter that Otunnu never used the money from the party’s bank account to give the two million shillings that was supposed to be given to parliamentary candidates who ran on UPC ticket during 2011 general elections.

It is said that some of the party members from the diaspora are now joining the anti Otunnu crusaders to oust him from UPC’s top post. Some of Otunnu’s major allies in the party have reportedly deserted him to an extent that Otunuu has started fearing for his life.

Sources in UPC say that Otunnu is now fearing to be poisoned reportedly by some members of the party who are against his leadership. Although Otunnu is the UPC president, some members on his cabinet reportedly no longer talk to him.

The former UN diplomat according to sources in the party currently carries his own food and tea. Some of the people who have reportedly remained on Otunnu’s side include his fellow Acholi Basil Lucima, Oyenna Odongo, Jacinta Ogwal, and Obua Ogwal.

It is said that some members of his cabinet met in his absentia to discuss party matters. To be continued later with more details expected.

By Doreen Nyanzi

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Wegulo who is now a presidential advisor, was together with Chris Rwakasisi (Museveni advisor) the subject of discussion today by UPC men during their weekly media briefing at Uganda House.

Nuwagaba however, says their preliminary investigations so far indicate that Wegulo went with no property aprt from himself, adding that the investigations into this matter will continue.

He also accused the president of appointing former Obote minister Chris Rwakasisi as his advisor, saying it was wrong for Museveni to appoint what he called a criminal to such a position; adding that Rwakasisi will now teach the president also how to murder as he did during Obote II regime.

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They say the move violates the party constitution.

A fortnight ago, while at Christ the King in Kampala, a group of youths formed a group called UPC Pressure group which they said would be used to restore order and sanity in the party.

The chairman of the UPC Lango region Tom Allan Opio Ocen says the group is viewed as a recipe for division, conflict and instability within the party in the Lango region. He says their action is uncalled for at the moment of peace and stability.

Opi- Ocen notes that their responsibility is to ensure that the party activities bring unity stability and effective development of the party as stipulated in the constitution of the party and directed by the leadership of the party.

Ultimate Media

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The party secretary, Joseph Bosa, says that the exercise will kick off in the western district of Hoima and then roll out to Buganda. He says dormant leaders of UPC will be relieved of their duties.

Bosa also confirms that they are finalizing with plans to punish all those errant party members who formed a rebel group fighting UPC party initiatives.

The errant members who are mostly university students are opposed to the current running of business in the party and now wanting change.

Ultimate media

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UPC President Olara Otunu

Yesterday a group led by party’s chief whip Betty Amongi and Jimmy Akena sat at Christ the King and condemned the leadership of the party saying it was illegally elected.

UPC Vice President Joseph Bbosa says UPC as a peaceful and a democratic party instituted various organs for members to express their opinions and concerns but none of them has ever appeared before the organs.

Bbosa adds that in two weeks time back, the party had a retreat summit and if the group had the party at heart as they claim they would have brought their claims on board than using media.

By Isaac Senabulya

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The members say they are surprised to see only Bukenya being accused of using Chogm money for his selfish interest yet money was involved.

Addressing journalists in Kampala the UPC vice president Joseph Bbosa said it is unfair for the government to treat the former vice president like are a Rat.

He says according to the law, everyone should be treated the same. Former VP is being accused of embezzling Chogm money for his own interest.

Bbosa also pointed out that the elected cabinet is too week and they don’t think that there is any ministers going to deliver as expected from their ministries.

UPC also asked to know how much the government had injected in the universal primary education (UPE) and agriculture sectors in the coming budget.

Bbosa says government should put much emphasis on UPE because teachers in these schools are being poorly paid which has led to poor performance.

He argued both agriculture and health sector must be improved in this year’s budget to improved in this country economy.

By Mugisa Isaac Mathias

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Badru Wegulo, former UPC President

Former UPC party President, Al hajj Badru Wegulo, and former Vice Chairman, Henry Mayega led a group of other UPC big men to the NRM.

The two announced their defection today as NRM Chairman and flag bearer, President Yoweri Museveni unveiled his fourth term election manifesto at Serena Hotel.

Museveni described the defection of Wegulo, Mayega and other top UPC members as significant for his party and campaign for re-election. The President said NRM is ready to work with all Uganda willing to join it for the development of the country.

Mayega and Wegulo promised to campaign for NRM and President Museveni in the 2011 general elections, thereby denying substantial support to UPC party President Olara Otunu who is giving his first try at the presidential seat.

The UPC, one of Uganda’s oldest political parties has led Uganda twice, from 1962-1970 and from 1980 to 1985, both times under the late Appollo Milton Obote.

It was not possible to get an official comment from UPC on the defections, but a senior party member said on condition of anonymity that it is unbelievable that Wegulo and Mayega who for years decampaigned Museveni and led weekly press briefings abusing the NRM government had decided to work with the same government and the man they said for long is leading the country backwards.

Cecilia Ogwal

UPC Iron lady, Cecilia Ogwal also recently defected officially from the party and joined the Forum for Democratic Change, and was elected the national Vice Chairperson of the Inter Party Coalition that is backing the main opposition leader, Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye for the 2011 Presidential elections scheduled for February 18^th 2011.

Wegulo, Mayega, Ogwal and former UPC President Dr. James Rwanyarare are the ones that registered the current UPC after political parties were allowed to operate in 2005.

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