By Hafusa Nabagala and Ezrah Kashumbusha,
NATIONAL
The Democratic Party spokesperson Okoler Opio Lo Amanu has defended president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni remarks on Kenyan television as being misinterpreted.
In an exclusive interview with Ktn Television on Sunday 16 October, Museveni was responding to a question regarding the corporation agreement signed between government and the opposition Democratic Party and power transitions in Uganda.
Museveni applauded the country when he said that he doesn’t have transition plans with Nobert Mao, the president General of the Democractic Party.
This was after the journalist asked about the fishing of Mao to justice and constitutional affairs ministerial position and speculations on Museveni’s secret power sharing plans to his son, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
However, the told viewers that the recruitment of Mao into Cabinet was meant to be part of his broader efforts to lure opposition and his Acholi co-ethnics into government as a way of amplifying unity and integration of the country.
He insisted that his deal with Mao had nothing to do with accelerating political transition in Uganda as the DP leadership has been claiming.
“I don’t have the powers to make my son a president or transit power to DP president Mao,” Museveni said
Addressing journalists on Tuesday at the DP offices at City House Kampala, Okoler Opio Lo Amanu said that Gen Museveni was merely misunderstood because DP doesn’t expect him to contradict contents of a document to which he appended his signature only in July.
He said DP had equally been misunderstood because, to them, political transition isn’t synonymous with ousting Museveni. That it’s possible to have transition and Museveni remains President of Uganda at the same time.
“We are looking at structural political transition and not mere cosmetic transition,” said Okoler Opio Lo Amanu said
“Whatever it is we are sure as DP that any misunderstandings arising regarding the political cooperation agreement and its provisions will be harmonized during the quarterly meetings between the two Principals namely Mao and Museveni,” he added.
Mao hopes to have exclusive meetings with Gen Museveni on quarterly basis to harmonize disagreements and misunderstandings arising from time to time-and generally check on the progress of the political cooperation.
Okoler is optimistic that both parties; Democratic Party and National Resistance Movement will adhere to the signed coorporation agreement to work together in respect for shared goals.
“The two political parties generally agreed among other things share political power, enable peaceful and democractic transition, foster contitutionalism and the respect for the rule of law.”
