6th October 2006 Press Release

THE PARTIES PLATFORM (TPP)

PLOT 40B, BOMBO RD. 1^ST FLOOR, CAROL HOUSE P.O. BOX 7606, KAMPALA. TEL: 0772-43-40-01; 0772-399529; 0772-91-10-60;

================================================= 6^TH OCT. 2006

PRESS BRIEF

12 POLITICAL PARTIES BOYCOT TO PARTICIPATE INTHE 44^TH INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATIONS

A.While we congratulate the people of Uganda for attaining the 44^th year of Independence, the only unfortunate thing is that we are increasing in years but not in political maturity.

We the 12 political parties in the TPP, want to inform the people of Uganda and other political parties that we have decided to boycott this year’s celebrations despite the invitation from the government on the following reasons:

1. Although we are fully registered under the laws of Uganda as political parties, we see no reason why we are segregated when it comes to issues of national importance and on issues of building and strengthening multi party democracy.

2. The government has deliberately refused to operationalize vital sections of the Political Parties and Organizations Act, 2005 which are crucial in strengthening political parties under a multiparty system e.g. sections 19 and 20 of the PPOA and instead the President forms a diversionary committee of Inter-party Cooperation headed by NRM Secretary General (Hon. Amama Mbabazi) which is contrary to the law.

3. We Members of TPP were involved in the road map and consequently in the referendum that ushered in a multi party system of governance on the assumption that the NRM government was and would follow and respect the rule of law. But now that they are not respecting the law, we have decide not to participate in this years independence celebrations and even other celebrations until when the government reviews its position on the issues of the law.

The deliberate refusal of the government to follow and to implement the vital sections of the PPOA 2005, has cast doubt on whether this government is interested in strengthening multi party democracy and observing the rule of law.

4. In a multi party dispensation, respect and tolerance for all is a vital part of strengthening multi-partyism as opposed to the Secretary General of the NRM who calls us small parties which is contrary to the rules and procedures of registering a political party.

B. At this point in time, we see no reason why we should be invited for independence celebrations when the poverty levels of our people are increasing and we have never seen a similar effort by the government to invite us for a dialog on how to reduce poverty in this country or about the people of Northern Uganda who have been in camps for the last 20 years and we have never been invited to be involved in solving this biting problem.

Therefore, we call upon government to follow the law and to build long lasting institutions which help in establishing long lasting peace and tolerance.