By KT Reporter
The Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) leadership in Lango has rallied behind the National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. In September, the Electoral Commission (EC) barred UPC from fronting a presidential candidate on grounds of illegality.
The party’s attempt to challenge the decision in court was unsuccessful after the High Court sitting in Kampala upheld the EC’s ruling, leaving many party supporters divided. Speaking during various campaign rallies across Lango, several UPC leaders openly declared their support for President Museveni.
Chris Ongom, the party’s regional vice chairperson for Lango, said that since UPC does not have a presidential candidate, they would throw their full support behind Museveni’s bid for another term.
Ongom, who also serves as a councilor representing Acaba Sub-county in Oyam District Council, made the declaration during President Museveni’s rally in Oyam. He said he, his household, and his supporters would all vote for President Museveni.
“My home people, at my age, I can tell which side the tree is bending and eventually falling. So, I want to tell you that this year, the tree of becoming the President of Uganda is falling on the side of His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni,” he said.
On Friday last week, Kwania District Chairperson Geoffrey Alex Ogwal, another staunch UPC supporter, also publicly declared his support for Museveni. He promised to campaign for the NRM candidate and requested that the President prioritize improving roads in the district.
However, some UPC supporters have taken a different stand. A section of the party’s youth wing has declared support for the National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu.
Vox pop on UPC:
In response, the NRM’s Regional Vice Chairperson for Northern Uganda, Denis Hamson Obua, urged other UPC supporters to follow the example of their leaders, noting that their top leadership had already shown the way.
“This is like what is written in the Bible about a man who was known as Saul but eventually became Paul. So as a follower, once your commander shifts his post, then you must follow suit.”
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