By Stephen Kalema
The Democratic Party (DP) has attacked Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) over its ‘hypocritical moves and insults’ towards Inter Party Organisation for Dialogue members who attended IPOD summit 2018.
At the press conference held at the DP headquarters in Kampala, DP acting Secretary General Gerald Blacks Siranda said FDC’s attitude of abusing political parties that participated in last week’s summit is unfortunate, yet FDC is a member of IPOD who are expected to support rather than undermine it.
“We respect FDC’s opinion but we urge them to desist from undermining the processes of an organisation they subscribe to. We will never get tired of engaging all political actors to ensure that the spirit of inter party dialogue and a culture of deliberation takes root in our country,” said Siranda.
DP’s reactions came in when FDC deputy Secretary General Harold Kaija, while addressing journalists at Najjanankumbi blasted the resolutions which were made during the IPOD summit 2018 since their party president was not present.
“We missed nothing from this summit since the IPOD Memorandum of Understanding states that the council and summit ceases once one of one of the political parties is absent,” said Kaija.
However Siranda told FDC, “IPOD processes are unstoppable. If the FDC does not believe in IPOD the honest and honorable thing to do is for them to withdraw and cease to be members of IPOD. Anything else smacks of hypocrisy and cheap grandstanding.”
According to Siranda those heaping insults on political parties which participated in this summit in good faith represent very big signs of ignorance in some political players Uganda has today.
“The absence of a big key player like FDC in the Summit was highly regrettable. But even more regrettable is the attempt by those who speak for FDC to heap insults on those who participated in the Summit.”
“We planted a seed and we think it is unfair, naive and shortsighted to demand that we show the harvest immediately. Nevertheless, we remain steadfast in the hope that sanity will prevail over petty radicalism and demagoguery,” Siranda added.
On what was harvested in the summit, Siranda said the meeting helped the opposition to clearly understand the position of president Museveni.
“We now have a clear understanding that President Museveni does not think transition of power is a key issue. Yet to opposition transition of power is the most important question we need,” said Siranda.
However Siranda said, in a situation where Museveni is adamant, opposition is left with two things to consider; to try and get him to change his mind using various political measures available to the democracy seeking forces. Or to push him out through positive nonviolent action.
“IPOD offers us an opportunity to constructively engage with a view to shaping the future of our country together,” said Siranda.
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