The Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) hosted the 11th electoral review meeting on 3rd May 2021 at the Global Summit Hotel in Hoima for the Bunyoro subregion. The meeting that started at 9:35am begun with introductions chaired by Mr. Wabyona Jackson, the Coordinator for Western Region. He mentioned that the region has had challenges with the subregional coordination. He encouraged the participants present that ANT was not a political wave but a political party with long term goals, urging them not to be discouraged by the electoral losses. The region registered successes of two councillors.
Among the participants included Daniel Kafureka, the subregional Coordinator Julius Tindimwebwa, Coordinator of the Business community, Mr. John Mary Odoy, CCEDU, Chairman Basakana Hannington, the chairperson of Emeritus Jinja District Local Government, Amb. Edith Grace Sempala, the Women’s league coordinator, Bala David Bwiruka, and the Education Institutions coordinator Mr. Bala David Bwiruka.
The workshop reflected on several issues including resolving issues affecting the participants, sharing of experiences and challenges of the past elections and the way forward, structure building, strength, and weaknesses of the party at the grassroots, grassroot mobilisation, and internal and external communications.
Hon. Alice Alaso, the Ag. National Coordinator for ANT emphasised the importance of the review workshop and the opportunity for participants to reflect and have a common goal. The meeting brought together coordinators and candidates within the region that represented the party in the just concluded elections. Members paid tribute to the colleagues who passed away within the electoral process. She updated members on several petitions by ANT candidates including Hon. Paul Mwiru, Hon. Ismail Kasule, and petitions from Terego and Namayingo.
She said that while ANT was not the most popular party in the region, she appreciated the courage of the participants to fly the ANT flag even in such hostile situations.
“The party had the right message, but it was not the right time. Still, you made us known.”
To all the candidates, she emphasised that “Whether you won or not, particularly those who did not win, you have built your social capital in the areas you contested – built a network upon which to build a career. The same network that participants built is the same network that the party will build around. Each candidate had a team, the party hopes that going through these teams, the party will have a template for growing the party at the grassroots.”
Participants reflected on several challenges, some of which were in the form of people claiming that ANT was the second NRM – which is not the case.
While emphasising that the party’s failure was not final, but an opportunity to rise stronger, the party’s presidential candidate Gen. Mugisha Muntu noted that most of the candidates who were running on the ANT party flag were participating in politics for the very first time.
He commended members for their participation, conviction, and commitment to a party that was new and did not have adequate resources to support them. He encouraged members that “it is those that persevere that always win in the end”. He urged members to remain courageous and continue to contribute to the process of transforming the country.
“it is important to build structures within the party with a strong grassroot presence. ANT is not to be built around a single person but around ideas, common beliefs, and common values,” he said.
Members were informed that the party could not raise adequate funding during the elections because it was still a new party.
“The NRM has derailed the politics of the country, monetizing it, in effect every candidate is seen as a source of income by the electorate, and the candidates have to bribe both the voters and the electoral commission candidates.”
Among the challenges faced by participants within the region included negative propaganda during elections, security interference, the state sponsorship of more than one candidate including from other opposition parties in areas that ANT fielded candidates (to divide the opposition vote), individual candidates’ unpreparedness, logistical challenges of distributing appointment letters for agents, identifying polling agents, coordination, communication, and limited resources.
Members re-committed to the ANT value-based system of organising and emphasised that politics was a contribution of one’s service to society and not a business.
As the meeting was concluded, Gen, Mugisha Muntu urged participants to build a legacy.