Boston Conference October 8, 2011
Birth and Christening of UDU
Madam Chairperson
Fellow Ugandans
Ladies and gentlemen
I thank you all for attending the first ever United Democratic Ugandans (UDU) conference.
I thank in particular Ugandans in the Boston area. Since the stolen February 18, 2011 presidential and parliamentary elections, the group has championed demonstrations that have taken place in Washington DC, New York City and several times here in Boston. The group participated actively in the Los Angeles conference where the umbrella organization was born and christened United Democratic Ugandans (UDU).
The first chairman of UDU Mr. Mubiru Musoke is from Boston as well as the leader of gender affairs Ms Dorothy Lubowa Stweart. Mr. Joseph Magandazi a UDU committee member who is also from Boston and represents FDC has championed work that has established networks here in the United States and between UDU and FDC.
The Boston group is hosting the first conference of UDU. We thank them for the warm welcome that has been extended to us. Please join me in giving them a round of well deserved applause.
The UDU committee was mandated to:
1. Finalize the manifesto (a title that was adjusted to National Recovery Plan – NRP – to reflect the substance as discussed in Los Angeles);
2. Register UDU;
3. Draw up a UDU constitution and bylaws (rules and regulations);
4. Conduct outreach activities with organizations at home and abroad opposed to the NRM system;
5. Convene the Boston conference on October 8, 2011.
6. In spite of the short period of three months and all the hurdles during a summer vacation period, the committee completed all the tasks and more as follows:
7. UDU was registered;
8. A UDU constitution and bylaws were completed;
9. Outreach activities were undertaken with organizations that did not take part in the Los Angeles conference– work that is still in progress;
10. The National Recovery Plan (NRP) was completed and circulated to organizations well in advance of this conference;
11. The conference has taken place as scheduled.
12. UDU committee has accomplished more than it was tasked:
13. We now have a letterhead;
14. We now have a website www.udugandans.org which is up and running;
15. We now have an e-mail address which is up and running. The committee has completed its assignments and more as noted above.
16. I thank the members of the Committee for a job well done. Please join me in giving them the well deserved round of applause.
The second phase will build on the foundation of these noble achievements and talented Ugandans on the committee who wish to continue to serve. UDU is ready for takeoff. The committee members from different backgrounds and perspectives have worked closely and adjusted to the prevailing circumstances. Some ten teleconferences have been held in the evenings for more than two hours each after a hard day’s work and extensive telephone conversations conducted and e-mail messages exchanged among committee members. They have established an institutional memory and laid the foundation for uninterrupted continuity into the second phase. Adjustments in the composition of the committee and executive branches may be necessary from time to time to accommodate new developments and priorities. Committee member interruptions at this critical stage will definitely be counterproductive for all of us in this hall and our fellow Ugandans outside.
With reference to an observation made at the Los Angeles conference diversity of Uganda at least in geographic and demographic terms must be respected in UDU activities including in elections, appointments and assignments of executive duties. Rotations in the executive branch may also be necessary as well as proportional representation.
We should not lose sight of forging real unity among us as another principal goal of UDU. Whether we like it or not: United we stand, divided we fall. And we should aim for efficiency and effectiveness in our work, using the talents at our disposal.
In the interest of visibility, justice and accountability, the committee decided that each member should make a presentation of the activities undertaken over the last three months. I will address you again in my capacity as a committee member of UDU.
Background information
Before I touch on UDU’s next steps, let me summarize for easy reference the background to the creation of UDU.
(a) Genesis of UDU
UDU was created in protest against the fraudulent elections in February 2011.
Many Ugandans in the opposition at home and abroad concluded that NRM had perfected the instruments of stealing elections that it may not be defeated at the ballot box. They formed or strengthened groups to galvanize Ugandans at home and abroad, friends and well wishers to unseat NRM by other means necessary. Radio Munansi and Ugandans at Heart Forum and others have been used as channels for this purpose.
Within a short time there were many groups in addition to the opposition political parties. These organizations resulted in conveying different messages that needed coordination and to speak with one voice for maximum efficiency and effectiveness. The formation of an umbrella organization of these groups was suggested as a solution. However, individual organizations would continue to exist unless they chose to disband voluntarily.
(b) Formation of umbrella organization
The conference to create the umbrella organization was convened in Los Angeles on July 8 and 9, 2011. It was hosted by Ugandans to the Rescue who worked closely with the group in New York.
The participants at the conference agreed unanimously to form the umbrella organization which was christened United Democratic Ugandans (UDU). A committee of 8 members was elected unanimously by acclamation. An executive branch of Chairman, Secretary-General, Resource Mobilizer, Legal Draftsman and Adviser was elected by the committee as mandated by the conference which endorsed the results unanimously by acclamation.
As demanded by the host of the conference we do not have an official record of the proceedings. The flip chart is the only reference we have about what happened on July 9, 2011 including the responsibilities that were given to the committee.
The next steps
The immediate next steps will involve three areas:
1.Resource mobilization. In order to do its work well UDU will need funds. So far we have not done much because we were waiting for finalization of what is needed to be in place before resource mobilization can begin;
2.UDU committee will step up outreach work to galvanize more support at home and abroad. Networks have already been established and synergies created among committee members for this purpose. We are ready to continue working with the networks we have already established at home and abroad. Interruptions at this critical stage will set the clock back.
3.The committee will elaborate the National Recovery Plan including preparing policy briefs which are already being requested for marketing at home and abroad. Some individuals and organizations at home and abroad have already expressed interest in working with us on the National Recovery Plan as an alternative to the failed NRM policies. The National Recovery Plan has been very well received at home and abroad.
4.In view of these very positive developments it is vital that committee members who wish to continue to serve should be supported. The Secretary-General wishes to continue to serve. Additions to the committee and executive branches can be made as appropriate. Together we shall not fail in the tasks we have set for ourselves – national unity, regime change and promotion of democracy, good governance and respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms which are inalienable rights and not privileges handed out by regimes and withdrawn at will.
5.I thank my fellow committee members for the support they extended to me as UDU Secretary-General.
Thank you all for your kind attention. I wish the conference a resounding success.