By Our Reporters
Arua Municipality candidate Kassiano Wadri has spoken out on the flopped political alliance between him and other opposition forces galvanized by DP leader Norbert Mao. Reacting to our earlier story (titledI can do without DP: Kassiano Wadri rants as his Mao Deal Fails), Wadri admitted driving to Norbert Mao’s home at Pace last Friday to discuss matters relating to the 15th August Arua Municipality elections. However, he denied the aspects of our story that portrayed him as a very unreasonable leader whose selfish demands caused the talks to collapse. “I was in Gulu but not for private talks with DP or Norbert Mao. It was an opposition caucus meeting which only coincided with the DP renewal conference. We had JEEMA, Dr. Bwanika and a delegation from UPC Arua branch. Many other leaders from Arua attended including Jeffery Alekua who is the JEEMA candidate in the race. It was an opposition caucus and even myself besides being a candidate now, I’m still FDC. I’m a NEC member and also the one in charge of FDC mobilization for the whole of northern Uganda. Now let me clear one thing.
I can’t be accused of being greedy and unreasonable because this a political contest where anyone is free to contest and even parties are free to field candidates. It’s not criminal. There is no way I would have gone to that meeting to demand that DP and JEEMA withdraw their candidates in my favor. I never made demands like that at that meeting. But here is the bigger point. You can’t give what you don’t have. I can’t be required to give or deliver Arua to DP or even Terego because they aren’t mine. I have nothing to give DP along those lines. I don’t have a constituency to give to DP. I don’t own Terego. I don’t own Arua Municipality to be able to give it to DP. They are not my personal property. The DPs have never funded me. They have no capacity. I’m on my own and my family and I haven’t had any secret meeting with DP or Norbert Mao; that is a wild goose being traded. I have a right to stand and they too have a right to field their own candidate. Voters will have the last word on who becomes MP,” Wadri explained during a recorded interview inside his campaign offices located near Anyasio P/S. He predicted winning with land slide victory no matter how much NRM tries to rig for their candidate. He also rebuked EC for refusing to avail candidates with the latest register that will be used on polling day. “We have offered as candidates to each part with Shs100,000 but the EC isn’t forthcoming regarding the register,” Wadri said as he prepared to go for his rally. As he spoke to Mulengera news website, Wadri was flanked by Buthelezi Mull Manjo the UPC chairman Arua district who said as a party, Wadri is their candidate for the MP slot. For comments, call, text or whatsapp us on 0703164755.
