Rhino RadioRadio Rhino
Click now to listen
Uganda Peoples Congress

Uganda Peoples Congress
National Secretariat
Party Headquarters, Uganda House,
Plot 8-10 Kampala Road, P. O. Box 9206, Kampala
phone/Fax:+256-41-236748

New Year Message

23 December 2006

  1. Uganda Peoples Congress extends a message of peace and harmony by wishing its members, Ugandans and our friends a Merry Christmas, a Happy Idi Adhua and a Happy New Year. This Christmas and end of year comes one year when Ugandans were hoping for a genuine political transition from Movement form of governance to multiparty politics after 20 years of dictatorship
  2. This Christmas also comes after the hotly contested and disputed Presidential and Parliamentary elections where the ruling Movement has a dominated Parliament which cannot in any way restrain the executive branch of the government. Parliament is not playing its role of checks and balances apart from demanding for their emoluments and other entitlements since corruption, human rights violations and personal power continues to pervade the Uganda polity.
  3. Fellow Ugandans, this year, we have witnessed further decay in our infrastructural development and social service delivery. Many of the roads and bridges constructed or repaired during the NRM regime and in particular for the last one year have collapsed as they could not withstand two months of average rain. Health and education sector continues to experience unprecedented crisis.
  4. The 'City and Country Land Bonanza' where President Museveni in an abuse of state power turned himself into the Uganda Land Commission and allocated land that housed public institutions like Butabika hospital, City schools, UBC land, Mabira forest, Bugala forest in Kalangala Island leading to resignation of the several members of the board of National Forestry Authority and senior staff is further demonstration of the maturity of absolute power in Uganda. This land Bonanza provoked uproar from Acholi sub region which potentially may breed a new conflict in our nation.
  5. On the economic front, we have witnessed serious mismanagement of the economy unknown to us during the two UPC regimes in the 60s and 80s where the prices of basic items like sugar has spiraled leading to increased rise in the cost of living. The pronounced scheme of Bonna Bagagawale has failed to take off. Poverty continues to wreck the lives of Ugandans.
  6. Despite this political, economic and social tragedy, UPC gives hope to Ugandans that not all is lost and it is still possible to rescue Uganda from bad governance and set it on the path of peaceful, economic, social and democratic recovery. We have always believed that, no serious transformation process can ever succeed without the realistic involvement of the people in their governance through democratic means.
  7. The strategy of rescuing Uganda lies in rebuilding Opposition Political Parties and empowering them to acquire capacity to democratically and decisively wrest power from the Movement which has proved in two painful decades, its incapacity and lack of will of organizing for the welfare of Ugandans apart from satisfying the selfish needs of its leaders and their sycophants.
  8. In pursuit of this goal, the Uganda Peoples Congress has devoted the last eight months in soul searching, planning and re-organization of the party to ensure that by 2011, we are in a position to defeat the NRM hands down at the polls. During these eight months, the party has done the following:-
  9. Critically examine its performance in 2006 general elections and in particular searched for the internal and external reasons for the level of its performance.
  10. Engaged in a series of studies, workshops and retreats to consider and draft a strategic plan.
  11. Eventually produced a five year Strategic Plan that will guide the party to recovery, growth and electoral victory.
  12. Strengthened its leadership at the National level through the appointment of an invigorated National Executive and the revamping of the staffing at the National Secretariat.
  13. Carried out a range of successful youth activities in various parts of the Country. These Youth activities are national on going process and it will be intensified in 2007.
  14. We therefore call upon the party members to rededicate themselves to the ideals and work for the party in the New Year to enable the party attain the goals of its strategic plan.
  15. The people of Uganda should openly abandon the decadent NRM and embrace Opposition parties especially UPC that has a clear track record of delivering Unity, Economic and Social progress to Uganda.
  16. Uganda Peoples Congress extends its heartfelt congratulations to all Ugandans who have stood firm and helped to shape the destiny of our Country especially in the year ending and also wish our Moslem citizens who are in Mecca a safe journey back home. We must move from this state of movement imposed decadency to a positive climate of peace, national reconciliation and nation building.
  17. Once again Merry Christmas, Happy Idi Adhua and Happy New Year.

For God and my Country

Miria Kalule Obote

PRESIDENT