JEEMA calls on FDC, DP to return to IPOD negotiating table

By Mubiru Ivan

Justice Forum (JEEMA) party has urged fellow political parties Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and Democratic Party (DP) to reverse their earlier decisions to boycott the Inter-Party Organization for Dialogue (IPOD) summit.

The summit is scheduled for Wednesday, December 12.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Muhamad Kateregga, JEEMA Secretary General revealed that all member parties recently had agreed to hold the summit. President Museveni had also expressed interest to attend not as Head of State but chairman of ruling party NRM since some members did not feel comfortable with it basing on the outcome of the 2016 presidential elections.

“This is the position from all member parties and we have not had any other meeting to amend or quash the proposed SUMMIT meeting slated for next week,” Katerega said.

Kateregga now wonders why some members have opted to pull out of the summit because of Museveni’s presence yet they had already agreed to share the platform with the President.

We wish to call upon our colleagues to respect the outcomes of the meeting we have had in preparations of the SUMMIT much as we as a party do not expect much to be agreed on based on the nature and handling of State affairs by the NRM. Inter Party arrangements have never been easy, even amongst fellow opposition parties. But this is a process worth investing in, given the tremendous impact a similar process had on Ghana’s transition to democracy. It is Ghana that served as the model for IPOD,” he stated.

Adding, “We wish to call upon our colleagues to urgently bring back all the issues to the IPOD Council so that we agree the next course of action, instead of appearing to be acting in a disjointed manner.”

Kateregga further tasked other political parties to emulate JEEMA which does not fear negotiation.

“JEEMA as a party does not fear negotiation, but never negotiates out of fear. We believe that there is no subject too difficult to discuss. That is what separates ordinarily politicians from Statesmen and Women,” he said.