By Mubiru Ivan
The Inter- Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD) summit scheduled for Wednesday, December 12 will go on despite absence of opposition Forum for Democratic Change.
Last week, Democratic Party (DP) made a u-turn to join other political parties that will be attending the summit.
Parties that had already confirmed their presence include Justice Forum (JEEMA), Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) and National Resistance Movement (NRM).
“IPOD will never go away. We will participate in the talks. Let us give Mr Museveni a chance to implement the resolution after all he is no longer as strong as he used to be and has lost influence even in his party,” DP President General Norbert Mao said on Sunday.
Recently, DP had pulled back from the meeting citing that they couldn’t hold talks with NRM since they only care about keeping themselves in power.
“As DP, we are not comfortable at all to sit with the ruling party NRM to discuss anything to do with the way forward for this country, they do not have faith, instead they care about their stay in power,” said Kenneth Kakande, the party’s spokesperson.
“We state that as DP, in principle, we believe in meaningful dialogue but we cannot participate in a dialogue where its outcome is per-conceived as window dressing,” he further alleged.
Meanwhile, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has maintained its stand of keeping out of the summit.
During a meeting at the party’s headquarters last Thursday, the party National Council said members will not be taking part in all engagements that involve President Yoweri Museveni due to the distrust they have in him.
“FDC National Council has unanimously passed a resolution instructing the Party bureaucrats not to participate in any meeting with Mr. Museveni,” revealed Ronald Muhinda, Dr Kizza Besigye’s aide.
Adding, “They strongly argue that the only way to remove Museveni junta is through struggle.”
However, Frank Rusa, the IPOD executive secretary, says FDC did not disassociate itself from the summit agenda. “FDC signed to the agenda at the retreat. It had a representation of their secretary general and vice president for Eastern Uganda, Salamu Musumba and they signed onto the four issues that they would like to be discussed. They have not disassociated themselves from this agenda,” he says.
The summit discussion will be centred on four thematic areas; strengthening political parties to enhance their relevance and effectiveness, consolidation of constitutional and electoral reforms, promotion of inclusiveness in national politics especially in relation to the role of youth and women in politics and strengthening democratic governance, human rights and observance of rule of law.
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