By Dennis Otim

22^nd Nov 2010

UPC President Otunnu

UPC Party President Dr. Olara Otunnu yesterday turned his full charm offensive to soften previously hostile Luwero residents who attributed much of their troubles to Obote’s UPC government.

At a campaign rally in the area, Otunnu sought to lay the blame for the Luwero deaths squarely at Museveni’s door.  “…President Museveni has been lying to you people of Luweero that he has plans to compensate you following your devastating suffering during the war. He is the one who began the bush war but has never fulfilled his pledges to you”, Otunnu said as he campaigned in Luwero.

The UPC President also promised the people of the so-called “Luwero Triangle” that if elected President, he will establish what he called a “Special Committee” to handle Luwero affairs and enable it to recover from the effects of the bloody 5yr war that brought President Museveni to power in 1986.

The “Luwero Triangle” war claimed the lives of hundreds of fighters on both sides of the conflict as well thousands of innocent civilians who were either deliberately targeted or merely got caught up in the crossfire between the warring armies.

The Special Committee, Otunnu added, will also be responsible for carrying out the national war accountability work that he has been calling for since he returned to Uganda.  “…We want everybody irrespective of which side they were on during the war to be held responsible. That will be the basis for genuine national reconciliation”, Otunnu emphasised.

Apart from Luwero, Otunnu has also called for similar inquiries into several other mass killings in the country including one in Mbarara, Ombaci, as well as the massacre of 23 youths in Kampala last September during the “Kayunga Riots”.

The UPC President also attacked Museveni’s decision to create a Ministry in Charge of Luwero Affairs, arguing that it was only done to hoodwink the public that Museveni is concerned about the plight of the people of Luwero whereas not.

However, talking to Uganda Correspondent yesterday, Mr. James Agaba, a young NRM fanatic and ideologue based in Kampala, said Otunnu was being hypocritical.  “…How can he attack us for creating a Ministry for Luwero and yet he has just promised to create something similar to handle Luwero affairs.  Is he really being honest to Ugandans”, the NRM cadre asked.

While on the campaign trail in Luwero, Dr. Otunnu also took time off to lay a wreath on the grave of Sheikh Swaibu Semakula, the first Mufti of Uganda who was also one of the key people who pushed for the formation of UPC.

It also emerged yesterday that Sheikh Swaibu Semakula was actually the one who chose the hand as the UPC party symbol.  END. Please log into www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories and anytime mid-week for our news updates.