Uganda Peoples’ Congress (UPC) parallel president, Dr. Olara Otunnu has Thursday announced his resignation as the opposition party president in a letter written to his cabinet Chairperson, Prof. Edward Kakonge.
Otunnu’s leadership was dethroned on May 30, 2015 after the District Conference elections of the party that saw Lira Municipality Member of Parliament, Jimmy Michael Akena voted President with landslide victory.
A lot of irregularities were cited in the elections which prompted Otunnu to institute a commission of inquiry. This was seen by Akena supporters as a plan to overturn his victory prompting them to forcefully take over the party headquarters on the 6th floor of Uganda House to date.
“As I informed the party cabinet having faithfully soldiered on well beyond the time I had planned, I strongly feel that I must now pass on this baton and responsibility. This is important and necessary for the party,” Otunnu told the media at Speke Hotel in Kampala.
Otunnu has announced that he has handed over the mantle to the Party Vice President in his cabinet, Joseph Bossa in conformity with Article 13.2 (7) of the Party Constitution.
He explained that the handover was earlier planned to take place on the occasion of the convocation of the National Council on May 7, 2016 but was foiled by police.
“In view of this development, I wish to inform you (National Chairman) that the planned transition will now take place and become effective on July 1, 2016,” Otunnu announced.
Otunnu noted that he will now turn his synergies to joining hands with patriotic and democracy seeking Ugandans within the framework of national social movement that is determined to prosecute to its logical conclusion the struggle for democratic change and the liberation of our people.
“Our country has been hijacked and its resources obscenely plundered by the Museveni- NRA mafia, after 30 years of their savage misrule and abuse, the country have been deliberately transformed into tragic state of comprehensive brokenness; we must take back our country from this mafia.”