Pascal Amuriat Ends Marriage with Uganda People’s Congress

Pascal Amuriat, the Chairperson of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) in Soroti City and the party’s flag bearer for the Soroti City East seat in the 2022 by-elections, has officially announced his departure from the party.

The decision comes after years of growing frustration with the leadership and ideological direction of the party, culminating in his recent electoral defeat.

Amuriat has been a member of UPC for over a decade.

In a press conference held today in Soroti, Amuriat revealed that he had made the difficult decision to leave the party, one that he had been part of for several years.

In the 2022 by-elections for Soroti City East, Amuriat received only 115 votes, a far from the 9,407 votes garnered by Herbert Edmund Ariko of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).

The third candidate, Moses Okia Attan, of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), came second with 8,771 votes.

In his address to the media, Amuriat explained that this decision was not made lightly.

He emphasized that it had come after deep introspection and a careful evaluation of both his personal values and the current direction of the party.

He reassured his supporters that the decision was reached after serious reflection on the state of the party and its inability to live up to its promises and ideals.

“I want to assure my supporters and the public that this is a decision that comes after much reflection. It was not an easy decision, but it is one that I had to make after weighing my personal values against the direction the party is taking,” Amuriat said.

“I have come to the realization that the Uganda People’s Congress is no longer aligned with my vision for the future of this country.”

One of the primary reasons Amuriat gave for his departure was his profound disappointment with UPC’s leadership.

According to Amuriat, the leadership of the party had failed to effectively advocate for the values and priorities that originally drew him to the UPC.

He expressed frustration over the party’s lack of progress on internal party development, noting that for the past five years, there had been no national council or annual delegates meetings, both of which are crucial to party structure building.

“The party has failed to build strong structures and mobilize Ugandans for meaningful change,” Amuriat lamented.

“Over the last five years, there has been no effort to convene a national council meeting or annual delegates meeting. This lack of action makes me question whether the party is truly committed to engaging Ugandans and fighting for change.”

Amuriat further criticized the informal alliance between UPC and the ruling NRM, which he feels undermines the role of the opposition in Uganda’s political system.

He expressed disappointment in UPC’s failure to stand firm against the ruling government, noting that the party had increasingly become complicit in the very tyranny it had once vowed to fight.

“I joined UPC because I believed in its mission to fight against tyranny and to promote social justice. However, the party’s informal alliance with the NRM has made me disillusioned,” he said.

“I believe that leadership should be about inclusivity, and working toward the common good, but unfortunately, this has not been my experience under the current leadership.”

Amuriat also highlighted the growing ideological differences between himself and the party.

Over time, he found that the party’s policies and direction no longer aligned with his personal values.

He expressed a deep commitment to social justice, the rule of law, and human dignity, values that he believes are no longer reflected in the party’s actions.

“My core beliefs have always been rooted in social justice and the rule of law. These values are non-negotiable for me,” Amuriat explained.

“However, over the years, I have found that the UPC no longer represents these values. The direction the party has taken is far from the vision I have for this country.”

Amuriat stressed that his departure was not the result of any recent events, but rather the culmination of years of ideological disillusionment with the party’s approach to governance.

He pointed to the party’s failure to push for significant reforms in areas like social justice and human rights as key factors in his decision.

“As a political leader, I believe in social justice, the rule of law, and dignity for every Ugandan. Unfortunately, I no longer see these values being championed by the UPC,” he remarked.

Another reason for Amuriat’s departure was the UPC’s failure to foster a meaningful policy consensus, particularly on crucial national issues.

He expressed frustration at the party’s inability to engage in constructive dialogue with other political actors, even within the opposition.

Amuriat emphasized the importance of cooperation between opposition parties, especially on key issues such as electoral reforms and governance policies.

However, he argued that UPC’s failure to engage in meaningful dialogue and forge alliances with other opposition groups had exacerbated the country’s political divisions, leaving Uganda without a strong and unified opposition force.

“Opposition parties must work together to address the challenges facing this country,” Amuriat stated.

“Unfortunately, UPC has failed to engage with other political actors on critical issues such as electoral reforms. Without policy consensus and collaboration, we cannot make meaningful progress as a nation.”

He went on to stress that the lack of policy consensus within the party had created a fractured opposition that was unable to present a unified front against the ruling NRM.

Amuriat expressed concern that the opposition’s inability to work together had made it more difficult to hold the government accountable and push for necessary reforms.

“Without collaboration and agreement on critical issues, we cannot move this country forward,” he added.

For Amuriat, personal integrity was one of the most important considerations in his decision to leave UPC.

He said, after a period of introspection, he realized that staying in the party would compromise his ability to remain true to his principles and personal values.

He explained that he could no longer reconcile his desire for genuine, transparent leadership with the current state of UPC.

“It is crucial for any leader to remain true to their values and personal integrity,” Amuriat said.

“After deep reflection, I have come to the conclusion that staying in UPC would compromise my ability to be fully authentic in my actions and decisions. For the sake of my conscience and personal integrity, I believe it is time to part ways.”

Amuriat’s emphasis on integrity reflects his commitment to serving his community and his belief in genuine, accountable leadership.

He vowed to continue working for the betterment of Ugandans, but under a new political framework that aligns more closely with his values.

“My commitment to serving my community remains unchanged,” Amuriat reassured his supporters.

“I will continue to advocate for policy changes that matter to everyday people, and I will work with anyone who shares my vision for a more inclusive and progressive society.”

While Amuriat’s departure from UPC marks the end of his political relationship with the party, it also marks the beginning of a new chapter in his political career.

He made it clear that while he is no longer affiliated with UPC, his dedication to public service and his vision for a better Uganda remain steadfast.

“I thank the many members and supporters of Uganda People’s Congress who have been part of my journey. I will continue to work with those who share my vision for the country, regardless of party affiliation,” Amuriat said.

Amuriat becomes the second high ranking UPC leaders to quit the party in Teso in less than two months.

Recently, Peter Lochom left the party to form his own Citizens Accord Party

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