Tension within opposition players puts unity at risk
SHAMIM NABAKOOZA
The recent exchanges among the top leadership of the opposition political parties have thwarted efforts by the opposition to form a united front against NRM.
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Some analysts blamed this uncoordinated troop movement on the lack of strong leadership amongst opposition parties while others accused the NRM of fanning the conflicts for political benefit.
Over the last couple of weeks, Norbert Mao, the president general of DP has whipped up a twitter storm accusing his opposition colleagues of not being honest and truthful in their campaign to dislodge Museveni.
Mao has lashed out at NUP's Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, FDC's Dr Kizza Besigye and others.
In all this, the ruling NRM has acted like spectators, cheering and jeering from the sidelines.
Kyagulanyi told a media briefing this week that true opposition members "will be seen through their actions," something some said was a veiled attack on Mao's recent twitter activity.
Opio Okoler Amanu, the DP spokesperson, said the opposition must embark on serious house cleaning.
"Some of the people in the leadership of the opposition have characters anchored on falsehoods. They have usurped the actual opposition," said Amanu without elaborating.
Former leader of opposition, Prof Ogenga Latigo blamed the impasse in the top opposition leadership on the quality of leaders that he said is wanting.
Wasswa Lule, a veteran politician said the fights are weakening the opposition forces.
"The state of life in the opposition is worrying. The fights are unhealthy because everyone is alienating the other," Lule said.
Amanu said unity of the opposition will come from speaking the truth.
"In DP we don't think that the fights will affect the parties but when we speak the truth, we are aiding reconciliation," he said.
Latigo said for the opposition to become strong, certain things will have to happen.
"For DP the change in the party will have to happen at the departure of Mao, for FDC we told them, they will not survive for long, NUP is in its early stages [of foundation], for UPC they are already in the stomach of the crocodile," Latigo said.
He warned that the scars created by unnecessary exchanges will not leave these parties on good working terms and that their supporters will be most affected.
"They will eventually shade the anger but this needs to be done with sobriety under good leadership," he said.
