National Unity Platform (NUP) spokesperson Joel Ssenyonyi has denied comments attributed to him belittling Dr Kizza Besigye’s new political coalition after it was unveiled this week.
Ssenyonyi, the MP for Nakawa East, said that his words were misrepresented and that he was quoted out of context.
‘This is a misrepresentation of what I said,’ he said, adding ‘perhaps because the program was in Luganda and issues got lost when they were translating into English.’
‘As NUP, we welcome every effort of any form as long as it’s geared towards change in our country. That has always been our stand and will always be,’ he added.
The social media post that was the subject of Ssenyonyi’s reaction, indicated that he made the comments during a Luganda talk show on NTV.
The weekly talk show is held every Saturday and is patronised by mostly politicians who are invited to discuss highlights in the news during the course of the week.
In the post, Senyonyi is quoted in English as suggesting that as the NUP party they don’t see People’s Front for Transition, which is headed by Besigye, as the opposition.
‘I don’t think their motive is fighting the NUP. If it is, then it is too small-minded. We need to focus on change rather than on political groups,’ he was quoted as saying on Saturday.
Besigye who has contested for four times as a presidential candidate formed the coalition with some opposition figures which is aimed at removing President Yoweri Museveni from power.
They include Forum for Democratic Change party president Patrick Amuriat, Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, Conservative Party president John Ken Lukyamuzi and constitutional lawyer Peter Walubiri who leads a splinter faction of the Uganda People’s Congress.
Other coalition members are leaders of the Justice Forum, People’s Progressive Party and a faction from the Democratic Party led by former independent presidential candidate Samuel Lubega Mukaaku.
The coalition was named People’s Front for Transition under the slogan, Twetaase. It was launched at JEEMA’s offices in Kampala.
Twetaase, when loosely translated, means, ‘let’s save ourselves’.
