The Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) will turn 65 on March 9, 2025. Historically, the Uganda Peoples Union (UPU) and Uganda National Congress (UNC) merged to form the UPC.
On March 9, 1960, this merger gave birth to the current UPC at the Uganda Club in Kampala.
According to Muzeyi Faizo, the party’s head of media and communications, the birth of the UPC occurred in full view of everyone and in a democratic, unifying, and focused manner on a larger goal of “one man, one vote, and self-government now.”
In a statement issued on March 5, Faizo stated that on the occasion of the Party’s 21st anniversary at the Uganda Club in Kampala on March 9, 1981, our founding father and the first UPC President Dr. Apolo Milton Obote emphasized the importance of the Uganda Club and Uganda in the following words: “Today is an important day in the life of the Uganda Peoples Congress. Here at this place and exactly 21 years ago, the UPC was formed.
“We have returned to the same place today for a very important meeting in the struggle of this Party and in the struggle of the people of Uganda to forge their identities…. fellow citizens, I want to end as I began. This Uganda Club is a club where many of us came to spend hours to think and talk about Uganda. It is a place of free thought, and I am happy to have been able to address you at Uganda club, the club of free thought. Thank you and thank you very much.”
As we speak today, he says, UPC and Uganda are undergoing a very difficult experience! The Uganda Club which was a place of deliberating ideas is now only accessible to a special group of people. The spirit of thinking and discussion is in retreat.
“This means that UPC and Uganda should reawaken people and be bold enough to retrace the key critical moments that helped to deliver uhuru.”
Faizo notes that this (the above) spirit is now lacking since even at the time National Resistance Army/Movement (NRA/M) grabbed power with guns from Luwero (old districts of Luwero, Mpigi and Mubende) on 26th January 1986, banned political Parties and their activities.
“UPC had to struggle with other political Parties and organizations to ensure that Uganda does not lose vision that was cemented at Uganda club on 9th March 1960! It should be put straight forward that as a country, we have moved several steps backwards in promotion and defense of our independence and sovereignty.
“We need to wake up from the slumber to ensure that the “Pearl of Africa shall rise and shine again” as inscribed in the UPC manifesto of 1980.”
As UPC Congressmen and women prepare to celebrate 65th UPC birthday across the country, the head of communications reveals their focus is on the national mobilisation tours of the Party President Hon. Jimmy Akena which “gives us an opportunity to rekindle the core values, aims and objectives which are centered on providing quality education for all.”
Other focuses are on health for all, employment opportunities for all, proper national housing policy, revival of effective cooperative unions and marketing boards, relaunching domestic banking with an ultimate goal of reestablishing cooperative banks across the country to serve the local people as well as revamping transport communication links among others.
“This is very important as UPC has a broader outlook and practice not only for Uganda but also for Africa and the world.
This is because UPC has a deeper and diverse connection with the society which is well captured in the speech by Uganda’s founding father Dr. A. Milton Obote at the occasion of the 21st anniversary of the Party at Uganda Club, Kampala on 9th March 1981.”
At the party, Faizo vividly recalls what Obote said, “Fellow citizens, this congress has roots. The UPC has roots and they are very deep roots. First the UPC is a Party of peasant farmers. They are to be found everywhere in Uganda. Second, the UPC is a Workers’ Party. Third, the UPC is not a Party of the past, it is a Party of the future.
“Therefore, it is a Party of the youth. Fourth, the UPC is a Party of ideas. For Uganda to develop, we need ideas and, UPC is that Party. Fifth, the UPC is a Party of internationalism. We believe in brotherly cooperation with all progressive people throughout the world.
“Their struggle is our struggle, their slavery is our slavery. Our freedom should therefore contribute to their freedom. That is why we support our brothers and sisters in Southern Africa, in Namibia and in South Africa. This is why we support the people of the Sahara who are struggling for their freedom and self-determination”.
However, what is disturbing UPC and Uganda is the ugly scenes that we are witnessing in our political landscape which do not reflect on the core values of our independence that we struggled to get on 9th October 1962.
Kawempe North MP by-election
What happened during the nomination exercise of Kawempe North by-election and campaigns as well as raiding headquarters of fully registered political Parties by security agencies is something UPC says should not be occurring at this stage especially when we are in high gears of preparing for 2025/2026 general elections.
“It is very much regrettable that such incidents leave people injured or maimed and property damaged. UPC calls upon all stakeholders to embrace peace, unity and always operate within the framework of the law.
“By running away from the true spirit of Uganda Club at the birth of UPC, we are bound to run short of ideas and unity which is a vital ingredient to politics of nation building.
“We have to put on bigger lenses and see through all this type of violence on political Parties and the public. It is certainly not a good omen for Uganda as we head for 2025/2026 polls.”
Discover more from tndNews, Uganda
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.