Draft Statement

DRAFT STATEMENT

Whereas its alright for the President to have a meeting with the former Presidential candidates, upon consideration of his key note address, and the agenda of 28th July, 2006 to them, shockingly and surprisingly to the registered parties that the meeting was aimed at forming an Inter-party Cooperation with the purpose of drawing the code of conduct of political parties excluding the majority of the registered parties

We in the parties platform, think that it was a wrong forum for forming an Inter-party Cooperation. Because it inconsistent with their provisions of the section 20 of the Political Parties and Organizations Act (PPOA) CAP 18 OF 2005 which clearly states that there shall be a National Consultative Forum for Political Parties and Organizations and the composition of which shall consist of inter –alia registered political parties and organizations. For the meaning of the political parties and organizations refer to section two of the Act.

Consequently, the President’s proposition of only parties with members in parliament to constitute the Forum would be contrary to the existing law. And in our view the President would also be acting in violation of Section 19 and 20 of the PPOA Cap 18 of 2005.

Recalling the good will of the 13 political parties which sat at Fairway Hotel for six month, and finally signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government which paved the way for the change of the system. AND it was in that meeting that the first draft code of conduct and National Consultative Forum were first executed. AND further recalling that its those political parties and a few others that were responsible for the change of the political system to the now existing political pluralism. IN the premises therefore, we parties feel highly indebted if we are to be excluded from the forum that will draft the Code of Conduct.

As parties, we are very concerned as to why it has taken too long for:

  1. The Code of Conduct to prescribed pursuant to Section 19 and 27 of the PPOA.

2. To establish the National Consultative Forum in accordance with Section 20 of PPOA.

In our view we feel that the delay is inequitable and totally unacceptable.

We therefore demand immediately as follow:

  1. That the Government disband the idea of Inter-party Cooperation and instead follow the guidance of the law as prescribed by Section 20 of the PPOA.
  2. That it operationalises the National Consultative Forum without delay as we are already in a Multi-party system of Government.
  3. That the Minister in consultation with all registered political parties should draw up the code of conduct for political parties.

Unless the Government positively responds to our legitimate request within a short time we shall be left with no other choice but to seek legal redress.

signed

EMMANUEL TUMUSIIME

CHAIRMAN

THE PARTIES PLATFORM (TPP)