SPEECH AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE MARKING THE HAND OVER OF NOD’S CERTIFICATE
Dear Countrymen and Women,
Greetings.
We have called you here to witness the landmark point NOD reached today in its struggle, of being issued the certificate of registration by the Registrar General, after waiting 6 months.
NOD lodged its papers with the Registrar General’s office on 8th. April, and it is only today, the 18th of October, that we have finally been given our certificate. NOD is now a legal and free independent political party.
The road to official recognition has been arduous and if it wasn’t for the commitment and steadfastness to NOD’s vision by its leadership, perhaps NOD would have faded away like many others who unfortunately failed to get registered. But NOD is here to stay. NOD is the last on to the stage, and it will be the last off the stage. This is our promise.
Those of our compatriots who doubted our resolve may have to take another good look at NOD and its leadership to understand who we are, and our commitment to our ideals and vision.
NOD is now ready to contribute in every positive way not only to the political transition process as an opposition party, but also to be a significant factor in Uganda’s history from now on; despite the fact that we have been deliberately and unfairly kept out until now.
NOD does not have, unlike our political adversaries, the advantage of time on its side. However we believe that with the peoples Will, we shall be ready for the 2006 Presidential and General elections.
NOD has therefore geared itself for a crash programme of action. Our political roadmap is as follows:
18th. October -------25th. November 2005:
Now is the time therefore for those who wanted to but could not come on board openly, because of our lack of official status, to do so. NOD Membership Cards, T Shirts, Scarfs and the beautiful NOD Jingle go on sale officially today. Right now.
In order to strengthen a democratic transition, NOD has taken the following position:
1. NOD demands that the 2006 General and Presidential elections be postponed by at least 6 months. NOD considers this a reasonable preposition because it is necessary to give the current parliament sufficient time to carry out its mandate and put in place all the necessary legislation and required instruments for transition to political pluralism. What is the hurry? After all, we have waited 19 years for multiparty elections. Why the rush now?
2. NOD demands that the Electoral Commission be totally disbanded.
The current Electoral Commission’s mindset of a one party system, coupled with its obvious bias and non partisanship, cannot guarantee free and fair elections. In its place, NOD demands that
a non partisan multifaceted and representative body be put in place thru’ a transparent method.
3. That the issue of the Electoral Register be thoroughly revisited by
all stake holders, and a transparent verifiable Electoral Register be made public before elections.
4. NOD, as the newest member in the opposition grouping, has already communicated its desire to join and is seeking recognition and inclusion into the G-6; which should from today become and be referred to as the G-7. We believe NOD will bring added value to the opposition thru this strategic liaison and partnership alliance.
5. We make an earnest appeal to the Media fraternity, to give NOD equitable and fair, but objectively critical coverage in order to level the playing field. A number of times we have approached the press in the past and have been blatantly turned away, or simply ignored.
Lastly, we want to thank the people of Uganda who have borne with great cost to life, property and development, the brunt of “No Party Democracy” in the last 19 years. Time has come for REAL CHANGE, for NEW BLOOD. It is a new dawn for Uganda. NOD will make a fresh start. Bloodshed must stop. No more wars. We need to atone for the past. We need to coalesce the Nation together. We need forgiveness, reconciliation and hard work.
WE NEED NEW WINE IN A NEW BAG.
Ladies and gentlemen,
I thank you.
Dr. Okiror Oumo
CHAIRMAN.
NEW ORDER DEMOCRACY
Handover Speech
