The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | President Museveni has asked opposition parties in the country to support him fight electoral violence.
Museveni made the remarks on Saturday at State House Entebbe while meeting members of the Inter Party Organization for Dialogue (IPOD), a forum of political parties represented in Parliament.
Museveni said he is opmistic that if he garners support from political parties, political violence and commercialisation of politcs will be no more.
“I urged leaders of the opposition political parties, together with their supporters, to work with the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government to eradicate electoral violence and the monetization of politics to give democracy and stability a chance to flourish in Uganda,” Museveni said in a short statement.
He added; “If you want democracy and stability, do not tolerate electoral violence and money. Electoral violence is a big shame. It must not be tolerated. I was working on stopping electoral violence myself. But if I get support we shall eradicate it.”
“I have therefore given green light for the IPOD summit to take place in Kampala on 12th December 2018 at which all leaders of the opposition political Parties are expected to attend.”
In the past months there has been violence especially during by-elections. In the Arua by-election, more than 30 opposition politicians including Members of Parliament were arrested and manhandled by security agencies on the last day of campaigns.
The arrests were triggered by the alleged stoning of one of President Museveni’s cars as he left the venue where he was campaigning for the NRM candidate.
The IPOD delegation was led by its Chairperson Fred Ebi, the Secretary Geneal of Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC).
Others were NRM Secretary General Justine Kasule Lumumba and her deputy Richard Todwong, JEEMA Secretary General Fredrick Kasajja and Democratic Party Secretary-General Dr Gerald Siranda. The meeting was also attended by Prime Minister, Ruhakana Rugunda.
However, it was shunned by Forum for Democratic Change (FDC)vice president for Eastern Uganda Salaam Musumba, who said that she had been authorised by the party leadership to go to State House.
Lumumba said that Museveni, the chairman of NRM Party could not meet them at party offices because he had state guests at State House Entebbe.
I held a meeting with a delegation of members of the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD) at State House Entebbe, led by the Chairperson of the organization, Mr. Fred Ebil. pic.twitter.com/Y5TmOTZL5H
— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) November 11, 2018
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