The Platform to Rescue Uganda in its National Governing Council meeting, which sat on April 11, 2015, took a decision that PRU executive will visit the headquarters of all other political parties including that of the NRM.
That is intended to achieve the following things
Establish a rapport among all groups that share the same mission and purpose.
To share our vision for the future and present our way forward to other compatriots so that an earnest debate on real concrete issues can begin
Try to give wanaichi hope that there is serious work going on and request them to be part of this mass movement now taking shape.
The visit
We were welcomed warmly by over 13 DP members of both the DP National Council, NEC and district chairmen from northern region, eastern region, western region and Buganda region. They were all led by the National Chairman of the Democratic Party and Jinja Mayor Haji Muhammad Kezaala. Also present were the party Secretary General Mr Mathias Nsubuga Mpuga, the DP Publicity Secretary Mr Kenneth Kakande. Youth leaders and other dignitaries on its part, the Platform to Rescue Uganda was led by its National Coordinator, Gen. David Sejusa. He was accompanied by all the chairmen of the TEN political parties and other prominent individuals who now form PRU. The reception was warm and the respect mutual.
The following points came up and can be shared for public consumption. The rest we shall communicate as we go along, as they form the basis of the ongoing debate.
DP AFRIENDLY FORCE AND KEY STRATEGIC ELEMENT:
Democratic Party is not only a friendly force in thestruggle for justice and freedoms, but is actually a key strategic component in struggle to save Uganda. This is because of its history, consistency, versatile support base and clean leadership.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE PROBLEM?
That all forces, including DP, need to search for a reason why they have not ended the dictatorship so far. What are the drawbacks? What new thing is being done now which will ensure different results?
THE CURRENT LEGAL, POLITICAL AND ORGANASATIONAL SET UP NOT DESIGNED TO CREATE VIABLE OPPOSITION:
Note that the current legal and political setup under the NRM is not intended to produce viable opposition parties but rather weak, confused and perennially starved of funds. It is still a hangover from the one party state in Uganda right from 1986 to 2005. The change has been in name but not in THE INNER DYNAMCS OF ORGANSATION, OPERATION, RESOURCE AQUISITION AND EVEN GENERAL OUTLOOK. They are designed to look inferior to NRM to give the impression that they are weak. But this can be reversed if understood and deliberately worked on.
Therefore, as the opposition parties, including all those silent allies in NRM, start now  to serious reposition ourselves in the middle of the new resistance against the dictatorship,we must also start thinking about organising OUTSIDE THE NARROW FRAMEWORK PROVIDED BY THE DICTATORSHIP. We need to extend the operational horizons as permitted by the Ugandan Constitution.
NATURE OF STRUGGLE
It was agreed that the nature of struggle today is different both in form, content and mission. In the state Uganda is in today, it goes beyond the struggle for democratic governance and rule of law. It goes to the foundation of our very existence as a people and Uganda as united viable country.
The struggle is to save the state and ourselves before the implosion like that in all those countries around us engulfs us. It will because the building blocks for it are already here with us. Otherwise doing nothing will easily let MrMuseveni go down with country.
PRUÂ POSITION ON STRENGTH OF INDIVIDUAL PARTIES BEFORE UNITY:
As stated earlier, PRU is for strong versatile opposition parties. It does not believe in the cannibalisation of cadres from existing parties for the new ones. This weakens those you cannibalise without making you stronger either. For we do not have the time, nor the skill to quickly integrate them. The end result of such an approach would be to create a weak end product overall and this must be reject.
The correct approach should be for all to work together, share talent, ideas, strategiesand tactics and share means (resources) where necessary. We cannot defeat the oppressor when we fight among ourselves. In Second World War, the allies shared intelligences, talent, strategies etc until they defeated the Nazis.
UNITY:
Unity as a principle and concept is a SINE QUA NON (indispensable) in the struggle that requires a critical match todecisively TILT THE BALANCE OF POWER AGAINST THE DICTATORSHIP. Therefore unity must be to bring together neither strength nor weakness. WEAKENESS + WEAKNESS = WEAKNESS- 0+ 0 = 0.
We need, therefore, to build strong individual capacities as parties and organisations so that when we ultimately unite for action, we are a hotbed of power, better organisation, better facilities, but above all, a harmonised approach in terms of message, strategy and tactics. These make impossible for the oppressor to survive.
THE QUESTION OF NRM BREAKING THE LAW
NRM is not above the law. It must operate within the confines of the law. Therefore, where it breaks the law, for example, by fielding an illegal candidate , like the one whose years offend the provisions of the constitution, the people of Uganda shall reject it using their constitutional provisions, and if need be they will defend the constitution by popular action.
NRM and its members are not above the law and Ugandans will hold them accountable so that they fulfil every legal requirement.
There other areas of working committees to be set up and other in-house matters. To these, we leave for future communication.
We are all delighted that the political forces have started discussing the viable option available to us, e.g., whether toparticipate in an election which you know has been stolen? Boycott it and allow the oppressor to field small parties to win it hands down? Or organise and acquire enough capacity to stop Parliament from helping in the rigging. And if they persist and become part of the problem and therefore a legitimate target for the liberation forces, what capacity and capabilities do we require to put in place?
These and others are now occupying our minds and the public shall be kept informed.
In the struggle
Signed
General David Sejusa
Coordinator PRU
