The Inter- Party Cooperation has joined forces with Subbi and a Democratic Party faction to boost the opposition chances of winning the 2011 polls. Subbi was formed early this year by Buganda Kingdom loyalists as a political pressure group under the leadership of Joseph Mulwanyamuli Ssemwogerere, the former Katikiro of Buganda.
Wafula Oguttu, the IPC Steering committee chairperson says that they believe that working with Subbi will help deliver the Buganda vote to the opposition. He says that Subbi and DP members will officially be welcomed into the IPC on Thursday at Pope Paul Memorial hall.
He says that they accepted to bring on board DP to minimize the losses the opposition suffered when they lost Kyadondo North, Rubaga division and Kalungu East to the NRM. Wafula says that the admission of the DP faction allied to Sam Lubega is subject to the disposal of their court case.
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But Sam Lubega denies any links with IPC. Lubega who has already picked nomination forms to run for President, explains that they had applied to join IPC but abandoned the project after waiting for three and half months without a reply.
Lubega explained that their National Executive Committee would pronounce itself on IPC after their Thursday meeting. Lubega wondered why the IPC had taken to long to admit his party.
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Lubega was however more concerned about leadership, resource sharing and how to move in the pre-election and post election period.
Lubega thinks that IPC needs to embrace all the opposition parties if it's to appeal to civil society and all Ugandans.
But, Dr. Lulume Bayiga when contacted sounded more positive saying they were joining IPC with an understanding to support IPC candidates where they are strong and also have IPC support DP candidates in their strongholds.
Tom Malaba
Freelancer
