Story No: 21 of 72
(As seen by Deo Njoki)
DP Vice President (Eastern Uganda)
At the NDC of 2005 at Namboole, I was elected (unopposed) the National Organizing Secretary. Most of the delegates from Northern Uganda, walked out of the conference prematurely. There had been some dissatisfaction about the election of the PG. The two contestants for the position were brilliant boys from one sub-region.
In as much as the candidates were from one sub-region, the under tones were from other regions.
The late Dr. John Ssebaana Kizito became the PG (2005-2010). Uniting the party became our top agenda.
My office (NOS) organised a regional conference in Gulu, and the candidate who was not elected at the NDC was unanimously elected the Regional VP. Harmony returned, not only in the region but in the whole party.
While in the North, I was invited by one of the elders in the sub-region and he told me something that shed some light on the cause of the undertones.
According to that elder, people from the central region, highjacked their initiative and not only announced the formation of a political party, but also locked the initiators of the idea, out of the leadership of the party. The NEC of DP was from one region until 1962, when the party constitution was amended to introduce the position of National Chairman, the late Gaspar Oda, was brought on board as the first National Chairman.
The elder asked me to go back to Kampala and tell the PG emeritus then, what he had told. I obeyed the instruction.
It was not a surprise, therefore, that in the previous elections, DP has performed well in the North than in other regions. They consider DP, their brain child.
When DP got a PG from the land of the late Obonyo, where the idea was born, it should have been celebrated by us all. It should have healed the wound.
There is a need to organise a cup of tea @National Chairman. _Cachok Matin_
C
The late Ben Kiwanuka warned his people, and it looks like it became a curse, that you will look for me, when I am no more.
His predecessor, Sseenkaggale Dr. PKS did not enjoy his tenure. Much of the trouble he faced was engineered from his own region. Even when he contested for the National Presidency, most of the support and votes were from other regions. If central region had supported their sons, maybe DP could have led this country for a longer time.
The late PG, DR. JSK was not at peace for much of his time in the office 2005-2010). He was consistently fought. ALL the trouble JSK endured as PG, was from his region, with some of the ringleaders being from his own clan. One time the late PG was in tears and told, a brilliant young man from his clan, that “You will never lead DP”. The one he told is now in another political party.
Recently, all the leaders who defected from DP to other political formations, were from one region. It is my prayer that the painful words of our past leaders should not become lasting curses to DP. Unfortunately, the elders who could call the young people to order, are getting extinct.
W
Then we are having diminishing party presence from another region, where DP was very strong. (DP Egumire!?)
First, was the war and the rebels. Most of the initial young men and women were recruited from there, and mainly from DP background to fight UPC govt. After taking power, it became a pain for their parents to resist the government that was employing their children. DP bases were eroded. The indigenous leaders in the region pulled back.
Nature abhors a vacuum, other people stepped in.
The people who took over leadership had names like Mukasa, Kakooza, Walimbwa, Makumbi, Balikudembe etc. All sounding like names from a neighbouring clan. It’s not easy for outsiders to organise the insiders. Quietly, there is talk of DP colonialism in that region
The ingenious people didn’t shout. They didn’t fight the new order. They just sat back and let their children enjoy from the ‘New World Order’.
Whenever there is a DP function, like NDC, they turn up in big numbers, and when they can’t, at least some young people from one sub-region, come and represent them. Then they humbly go back and keep quiet.
E
The region of the ‘Wise’ has always been contested between different interests, maybe because it hosts different tribal communities.
When I was growing up, Karamoja, one district then, was part of the East Region. The last DP Chairman of Karamoja District was Mr. Ikol, from Namalu, bordering Sironko District.
Today, Karamoja Region is under the jurisdiction of Hon. Peter Okot, as the VP. There was no fight, we let it go.
During the Lancaster Conference in 1961, Bugisu District was represented by Mr. Solomon Mutenyu, not as a DP. He made up his mind during the conference. It was the land issue. Whereas Milton Obote wanted the land nationalized, Ben Kiwanuka argued that land belongs to the people not the government. Mr. Mutenyu saw sense in Ben Kiwaanuka’s arguement and when they returned, he became a DP. Choice on principle.
Under the DP led govt, the Sebin, led by the late Chemonges, petitioned to break away from Bugisu, because of suppression and oppression, and Ben Kiwanuka allowed it. That angered Bugisu, who became predominantly UPC, and pleased the Sabin, who became predominantly DP.
Between the Karamojongs, the Bagisu and Lake Kyoga, are my in-laws, the Iteso. Very nice people, especially, the women.
They were politically non-violent until some people stole their cattle, and some young people were mobilized to become Arrow Boys.
Otherwise, they play Akogo (traditional music & dance)., for every leader who comes. They played, for Ben Kiwanuka, for Obote, for Amin, for Obote again, when he returned. Then…… I have not heard their new songs for the current arrangements!!
There is a saying in my tradition, that a falling tree cannot hit a person who is not nearby it.
Maybe that is their principle.
However, being sandwiched between Lango and Bugisu, UPC had more influence in Bugisu than DP.
Bukedi a oscillates its support between political parties. First, they followed manifestoes and the quality of leaders, e.g. 1961 Bukedi South (Busia) elected Mr. Buluma, a UPC, in a DP led govt. In 1962, they elected Mr. Mugeni Francis, a DP, in a UPC govt. On two occasions, it has taken President M7 to go to Busia, to campaign for a candidate against DP’s Deo Njoki, and people were not scared. Today, it is difficult to know what they follow.
Near the Nile are the Basoga. They are said to descend from Bunyoro. So, like the Bunyoro, most of the Basoga MPs in the 80s were DP. Then they all decided to cross to UPC, leaving only one MP, the late Hon. Prof. Kyesimira.
They used to be very loyal people, obeying orders of their leaders without questioning (Omwami Kyakoba nange kyenkoba). Today, there are many power centers and brokers, requiring new strategies.
Times have changed and so have the political dynamics. Politics, is no longer based on traditional power bases. The bases are not static. I experienced that rude reality during the previous elections.
CALL TO ACTION
The National Organizing Secretary, please take the lead. The party needs reorganising. Consult with stakeholders and take the party from Balintuma, to the branches.
