Roundup: Uganda's opposition forms coalition for 2016 polls

Uganda's opposition has formed a coalition in the latest attempt to challenge President Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power for 30 years, in the 2016 general elections.

The coalition, named Democratic Alliance, brings together opposition parties, pressure groups as well as persons from civil society groups and religious groups. The representatives on June 10 signed a protocol that will guide the nomination of a joint presidential candidate.

While former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi, who is seen as a likely strong contender to Museveni in the elections, did not attend the signing ceremony, his representatives say they welcome the initiative and will soon append their signature on the protocol.

Former Vice President Gilbert Bukenya, who fell out with his boss Museveni, is in the alliance, which he says is critical in defeating Museveni.

In a joint statement at the ceremony in the capital Kampala, Asuman Basalirwa, head of the opposition Justice Forum, said that if they win the elections, they will establish a broad-based transitional government of national unity for five years.

The transitional government's president will not be eligible to stand for another term. Its main purpose will be to implement appropriate political and economic reforms to build a strong and durable foundation for democracy, rule of law and economic justice, Basalirwa said.

This is not the first time that the opposition has formed a coalition to challenge Museveni. They failed to win in 1996 and 2011, arguing that the elections were not free and fair.

Analysts say what makes this time's alliance different is that it involves the former bigwigs of the ruling party, National Resistance Movement (NRM).

Mbabazi, who is seen as the architect of the formation of the NRM and Museveni's close confidant for over 40 years, is said to own great power and influence.

He was accused by the NRM of forming a parallel structure within the party and aiming to fulfill his power ambitions, and was fired by Museveni from the posts of prime minister and secretary-general of the party.

Despite calls from his supporters to take on Museveni in the 2016 elections, Mbabazi has kept silent, only revealing recently that he is about to make "major announcement."

Moves of his close associates indicate that he might be preparing for the presidential election, analysts say.

Another big shot, Bukenya, who is said to have good mobilization skills, has been critical of Museveni. The alliance hopes to ride on this to organize the masses to rally behind it during the campaigns.

Another politician in the coalition, Kizza Besigye, who is a former opposition leader and has challenged Museveni in three elections, has also joined the alliance.

Besigye has endured several arrests by police and has gotten a number of followers especially among the youths. During the signing ceremony, he warned that mistakes that disintegrated previous alliances must not be repeated.

Radio talk shows in the country have revealed that public views differ on the new alliance. One of the views is that the new coalition is going to give a tough time to the ruling party.

However, the NRM seems not to be bothered, saying that like previous alliances, this one "is also bound to collapse."

"That is not new and it can never be a threat to NRM. The fact that an alliance is formed on an adhoc basis only aiming at fighting an individual called President Museveni without any other substantive and principle driven interests for the parties to coalesce on, makes their whole move hollow," Frank Tumwebaze, minister for presidency said in a statement issued on Thursday.

"They did it last elections but it (the coalition) even collapsed before the campaigns ended... Whether an alliance or no alliance, any political group can win power if it addresses what the citizenry wants," he added.

The NRM argues that its strength lays in tacking issues facing the citizens and providing "possible solutions", while they say the opposition cannot.

As the race to the 2016 general elections heats up, Museveni has named a committee that will draft the party's 2016 manifesto.

The general elections are expected to be held in February next year. Endi