Dr Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere, the leader of the opposition Democratic Party (DP), has at last indicated that he will relinquish his position and not vie for the presidency in 2006. 

He was quoted as saying that he was only awaiting the opportunity to hand over to those aspiring to lead the party to higher heights. Ssemogerere said that DP members will elect a new leader in line with the party constitution when the right time comes." This has not been possible as activities of political parties were banned in 1986 and they cannot organise delegates' conferences to elect new office bearers.

Partly as a result of Dr Ssemogerere's announcement, nine people, including legislators and an economist in the Bank of Uganda, Emmanuel Wamala Kalule, have been named as potential candidates for the party's top job.

The news about Ssemogerere's retirement should be welcomed, especially as we approach the 2006 presidential election. It will give whoever takes over from him enough time to prepare for the election.

Of late, there have been calls from opposition politicians and some Movementists urging President Yoweri Museveni not to amend the 1995 constitution to seek a third term.

However, the parties should also clean up their. For example, by Ssemogerere saying that he will not go for the 2006 elections without relinquishing the seat immediately, he is leaving everyone guessing about whether he is serious this time round. What is expected of him is to give a time-frame of when he plans to do this.

Indeed, for Ssemogerere, who has been at the helm of DP for 32 years, to be taken seriously, he has to step down immediately. There cannot be any right time for DP to change guard, since it is not registered under the Political Parties and Other Organisations Act.

It is high time that those agitating for President Museveni to leave office should lead by example, including party leaders who who have stuck to their party leadership positions for ages.

If we take a quick look at the leadership in most of the political parties in Uganda, it is clear that apart from those who have died, the founders are still at the helm. For example, Dr Milton Obote, now in exile, has refused to leave the top seat of the Ugandan People's Congress, which he has occupied since the 1960s.

The Conservative Party, which was formed in 1980 by Mayanja Nkangi, has also never changed leadership. 

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