DENNIS ADIM ENAP, 31, is an aide to Jimmy Akena and a former guild speaker at Makerere University. Through UPC, he recently expressed interest to run for a seat in the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) elections due in April 2017. He told Edris Kiggundu why he wants to join the regional parliament.
What did a young man like you find attractive in UPC?
My membership in UPC has more with ideology. Personally I believe in social democracy, I believe in socialism. I believe in doing something that affects the common person.
It is only social democracy that factors in the common people. You may believe it or not, I was initiated into UPC by our former school carpenter at Busoga College Mwiri. He was called Wambuzi. He went to school [Mwiri] with Obote and used to play football with him.
He told me a lot about Obote. When I joined Makerere, I found it much easier to associate with UPC because of their style of politics and they had an active branch, the Young Congress.
What is UPC’s problem? The infighting never seems to end.
I don’t want to think it is a UPC problem. UPC is a family that has brothers and sisters who have different views around the same thing. All political institutions across the world have these differences.
We are still talking with our members so that we come together. Historically, we have had a tradition of groupings within UPC but what our forefathers succeeded is to unite the different groups around the causes of the party.
UPC already has a member in EALA [Chris Opoka] who has said that he will seek re-election. Why should you be chosen ahead of any other party member?
You see political contestation does not mean ring-fencing certain positions for some individuals. Opoka’s tenure of office is supposed to be five years; after five years, he is supposed to be subjected to another phase of election.
In this phase, whoever is interested picks nomination forms. I don’t want to say my contesting is a vote of no confidence in Opoka. I want to say that I have seen a window of opportunity to seek election to the same office.
If elected, what new ideas do you hope to take to EALA?
First I want to champion the youth agenda at EALA. I am looking at the East African Community implementing protocols and policies that enhance the effort productivity of the youth.
When you look at the Ugandan youths, especially the graduates, they have a big hindrance of crossing over to work in other countries. Of all the current EALA MPs with the exception of Hon Dan Kidega, I have not seen any member trying to champion the cause of the youths.
Specifically what do you want EAC to do for the youth?
Here we are looking at things like employment at the EAC level. What is it that we can do to improve the Uganda human resource, especially the youth? There is free movement of labour but it is not being observed.
I want to push Ugandan government to incorporate the teaching of Kiswahili in schools so that someone gets grasp of the language. This will enhance someone’s communication across the East African countries. Right now, the easiest way of sidelining Ugandans within the region is by the other two countries communicating in Kiswahili.
Beyond the youth agenda, why should people choose you?
I have the vigour and determination to push every idea that I have as an individual but also when I get elected, it becomes a collective responsibility for all members of EALA.
Secondly I have vast experience at various levels of leadership. I have been a leader right from primary school. [I am] Hon Jimmy Akena’s assistant [and] he continues to nurture me. It is this rich background of leadership and my determination that I believe puts me ahead of other people.
Many ordinary Ugandans do not see the relevance of EALA in their lives. Why do you think this is so?
Interestingly even some local MPs do not know the role of EALA. Its role is to push for the implementation of the East African protocols and the treaty.
How do I make relevant the EAC protocols to my mother in Kaliro? Many protocols have been signed in the area of agriculture. I, therefore, have to push for the full implementation of this protocol to benefit the common man.
What would you consider to be your main undoing, going into this race?
Some people have said it is my age. They think I am immature but I keep telling people that Apollo Milton Obote was voted into the Legislative Council (Legco) at the age of 32.
He became prime minister at 37 and he was in the youthful stage. It is this energy that saw Uganda benefitting from his leadership. So, what some people think is my weakest point [age] could be my strongest point.
Last word.
First, I seek the nomination of my party and I am beseeching members of my party to elect me as flag bearer. I have already written to the party secretary general expressing my interest to contest for EALA.
ekiggundu@observer.ug