The slogan ‘People Power’, commonly attributed to opposition politician, Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine has been drawn into yet another ontroversy after a political party named Uganda Meritocracy Party (UMP) claimed it.
Latest information indicate that little known, opposition political party, Uganda Meritocracy Party has come out to claim that the words are a “reserved and gazetted” slogan of the party.
It comes only a day after social media reports alleged that businessman, Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi, who is also an events manager had registered ‘People Power’ as an Non-Government Organisation (NGO).
It is these reports that prompted the Acting Legal Secretary for Uganda Meritocracy Party to write to the Electoral Commission (EC) seeking orders for the Directors of the said NGO to change the name of their organization.
“It is on record that People Power is a reserved and gazetted slogan of Uganda Meritocracy Party (UPM) in as per the laws pertaining the registration of Political Parties in Uganda,” read UMP’s letter in parts.
They say that Balaam’s registration of the NGO was “in error since the name is our party slogan reserved and gazetted in 2016.”
UMP further says that the Directors of the said organization should not only change the name with immediate effect, but also stop threatening individuals and organizations from using the ‘People Power’ name.
The opposition party has equally advised that the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) works hand in hand with other government registration bodies before certification of other entities in order to avoid related conflicts in future.
They have further threaten to take legal action against Barugahara should he fail to adhere to their demands with immediate effect.
However, on Tuesday evening, Balaam clarified through his lawyers Muwema and Company Advocates, that he has never registered any NGO in the names of People Power and doesn’t intended to do so.
He also threatened to sue fellow music promoter, Andrew Mukasa, whom he accuses of initiating the said allegations against him.