IPOD seeks meeting with National Unity Platform to discuss membership issues

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Interparty Organisation for Dialogue-IPOD has written to the National Unity Platform (NUP) seeking for a meeting to discuss their involvement in the organisation, to dialogue on issues affecting the country and political players in the country.

IPOD is an organisation that brings together all parties with representatives in Parliament, and NUP, is now the dominant opposition political party in parliament.

In 2017, five political parties, the ruling National Resistance Movement-NRM, Forum for Democratic Change-FDC, Democratic Party-DP, Uganda People’s Congress-UPC and Justice Forum-JEEMA, signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding to form IPOD.

Upon the expiry of the MoU, the IPOD secretariat embarked on a process of drafting a new MoU seeking input from former members. At the same time, the secretariat invited two parties, the NUP and the People’s Progressive Party which won seats in parliament to join the organization.

However, in a letter dated September 2 written by the NUP Secretary-General David Lewis Rubongoya, NUP said they would not join IPOD because the platform has largely been used to legitimize a brutal regime that has no regard or respect for democracy.

He said serious discussions about Uganda’s future had been denied audience within the platform and that NUP was not keen to participate in an exercise that is used as a façade to legitimize an otherwise illegitimate rule.

Now, in a letter dated 20th October, the IPOD Executive Secretary Frank Rusa, says that the IPOD Council which consists of secretary generals of member political parties met yesterday and decided to meet with the NUP leadership to answer to their concerns.

“In light of the pertinent issues raised in the above mentioned letter, the Secretary General of IPOD resolved to seek a meeting with the leadership of the National Unity Platform (NUP) so that they can formally respond to your political party’s concerns and also use the opportunity to throw more light on the vision, mission and aspirations of IPOD on the important matter of strengthening Uganda’s multiparty democracy,” reads the letter in part.

They have suggested that they meet on 4th November at the NUP party offices. The NUP is yet to respond but the party has often said they would only join the organisation if it serves the interest of Ugandans and that it provides platform for meaningful discussion.

Meanwhile, the People’s Progressive Party, which also secured a seat in the current parliament already expressed interest in joining the organisation.

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