UNAA headed for split as members disagree on elections, roles

The oldest Ugandan diaspora organisation is on the verge of yet another split after two operational camps emerged following a disagreement on elections and constitutional procedures.

The two camps, one headed by embattled President Monday Atigo and another by his deputy who claims to be the legitimate President and the Board of Trustees (BOT) headed by Dr Joseph Buwembo.

It al started when the two groups traded accusations of illegality, with Monday Atigo disbanding the BOT over what he termed as ‘causing more harm than good’. Atigo would later accuse the entire board of being illegally constituted as its members did not meet the requirements.

In reply, BOT through Dr Buwembo insisted that Mr Atigo was issuing such orders illegally as he did not wield any authority. Buwembo argued that Mr Atigo was not the legitimate president.

“A UNAA president has no constitutional powers or right to summarily disband the BOT. I also need to remind you, Mr Atigo, that constitutionally you are not the President and CEO of UNAA at this time, instead you are a presidential candidate. UNAA Board of Trustees recognizes Mr John Julius Muwulya as the interim president until the by-election occurs, at which time the elected individual will be sworn in as the president of UNAA,” Mr Buwembo said in reply.

Following the exchanges, the BOT stripped Mr Atigo of all UNAA effects including UNAA records, bank accounts, and canceled all credit cards.

“The BOT sent letters to all UNAA banks requesting immediate revocation of all signatories except the treasurer- Mr Nantamu. Bank of America has since complied,” Mr Martin Musinguzi, the BOT secretary said when contacted.

In retaliation, Mr Atigo scrapped BOT off the associations header paper and also deleted their profiles on the associations website.

“The treasurer and either the President or the secretary shall be signatories to the Association’s bank accounts and to the disbursement or issuance of checks there of, two signatures shall be required for any and all transactions. No person other than the officers named in this Article may withdraw or disburse the Association ‘s funds, that’s straight out of our constitution, the BOT need to double check their facts,” Atigo said.

“And as a matter of fact they have been removed from our website and all official UNAA Letter Heads,” he added.

Now with the Association’s convention set for August in Seattle, it seems unclear if the impasse will be resolved, the two camps have each started calling for registration to the convention.

Mr Atigo on Jan 23 sent out notice, calling upon members expecting to attend the convention to register using the UNAA website. Shortly after his communication, UNAA executive secretary, Peter Mukunya also revealed that he would be meeting with the Seattle local organizing committee to focus on preparations for the convention.

Decision on elections

The beginning of all trouble was the fraudulent elections in Miami in 2017, while both camps agreed on fresh elections, each camp has adamantly insisted on a different date to hold the fresh elections.

The BOT insists that elections will be held next month, while Mr Atigo and the majority of Electoral Commission members (9 out of 15) insist elections will be held in Seattle in August.

The members led by ‘sacked’ EC secretary Peter Simbi and John Agaba have written statement in which they appeal the date, claiming they have a busy schedule outside UNAA activities hence can not hold elections.

Mr Atigo on the other side, insists that there will not be elections in February.

“I am the constitutionally elected President and sworn in as well as off September 3rd 2017. So a group of illegally appointed individuals cannot decide for the members (the supreme organ of UNAA),” Atigo insists.

Mr Atigo’s contender, Daniel Kawuma when contacted said that elections will be held in February and he has contacted all parties involved to confirm the same.

“I am in touch with both the chairman EC and the BOT and the elections for February are on with or without Mr Atigo. I do not buy the excuse that EC are too busy to organize elections. UNAA will move forward following the laws that govern us,” Mr Kawuma added.

Meanwhile BOT secretary, Martin Musinguzi also reiterated that the EC members can not appeal the election date as they have no mandate. He also added that they do not give any genuine reasons to shift the date of elections to the convention in Seattle.

“They are clutching on straws by using such excuses, their only excuse could be lack of resources not to determine when or where to have an election,” Mr Musinguzi said.

“The EC is entirely existing under the direction and auspices of the BOT. And their only mandate is to do the bidding of the BoT or basically hold / conduct elections,” Musinguzi added.

Members quitting?

Meanwhile in the midst of the all this, one of the BOT members has expressed he is fed up with the bickering in the association.

In a text message, Mr Edward Nantamu weighed in on the ongoing fight in UNAA.

‘I volunteer as a BOT member. Do you expect me to fight in order to volunteer? Ask those stuffing voter registers with non members so they can win and volunteer why are they fighting to this extent to volunteer,” Mr Natamu said.

“So there is a lot to do without UNAA. I love the organization and I have been a member since 1997 but we have no history, culture of governing ourselves in a civil manner. I have enough good to do without UNAA or fighting anyone,” he added.

First split?

Five years ago, the same issues led to the split of UNAA into an equally large group, UNAA Causes. The two sides now hold different conventions on the same date albeit in different cities.

The UNAA Causes pride in self financing and providing top class entertainment and entrepreneurship based themes at their events, while the UNAA still require funding from government to hold their activities and their conventions are mainly political.

The two sides will again go head to head, with UNAA causes holding their convention in Washington DC, while UNAA will be in Seattle.