Museveni slams ‘petty’ opposition parties

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has slammed opposition parties for focusing on petty issues rather than critical issues such as prosperity of Ugandans and strategic security and future of Africa.

He said this on Wednesday as the Inter Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD) summit opened at the Speke Resort, Munyonyo.

The opposition parties raised issues of peaceful transition of power, strengthening democracy, levelling the playing ground, Museveni’s threat to wipe out the opposition parties, among other during the IPOD summit.

In his remarks, Museveni said as long as he is alive, he will be present to fight for prosperity of Ugandans and strategic security of Africa. These, he said are the reasons why he joined politics, why he continues to be in politics and why he will stay in politics as long as he has the energy.

“I am in politics for the prosperity of our people. Parties are only focussing on elections. Have elections, new MPs, a new President, so that they do what?” he remarked, adding that “Instead of the political class talking about the destiny of Africa, you are talking about petty things, elections, who comes…. That is why I have said if I still have strength, I will put my point of view, not to retire when the original issues why Africa nearly perished are not addressed.”

Museveni said government is willing to make concessions on certain issues. For instance on the issue of organizing rallies, he said there should not be a problem if rallies are not put in markets, have clear messages and purpose.

“I am surprised some people are avoiding dialogue. I am glad that today the room is full, dialogue is good. We discuss issues and resolve them,” Museveni said.

“I have always welcomed the opportunity for dialogue. To me, dialogue is a command from God. When I come out and say I want to lead people and then say I do not want to talk to so and so, I am failing in my mandate. I am not part of those that do not want to talk; I have never been.”

The President said that even when he was fighting against Tito Okello and Milton Obote, he still had talks with them.

“I held talks with Tito in Nairobi even when we were shooting at each other,” he said. He added that he also attended the Democratic Party relaunch at Grand Imperial hotel.

“You cannot say you are a leader but you don’t want to talk. When you talk it does not mean that you agree but you get an opportunity to put your views,” he said.

Museveni never denied saying he would wipe out the opposition but argued that the context of the statement was misconstrued. He argued that opposition will wipe itself out of politics for making strategic mistakes and opposing NRM regime in everything.

“During the war with Joseph Kony’s Lord Resistance Army, the opposition opposed us even when we told them the only solution was to defeat Kony. The opposition spent time attacking us as if we were the problem and when we defeated Kony, we took all the credit and that is why we won the 2011 elections in the whole country,” he said.

Museveni called upon the opposition to work with the government so that they can share success and avoid being wiped out.

“The opposition are worried about Uganda because it is coming up. As you drive along Jinja road and you will see so many factories but now see people have started attacking the investors but we are going to defeat them. Instead of working with me or government to address these issues, I am working alone and when I defeat them I will say that I worked alone,” he said.

On public assemblies, the President said that government has no problem with people addressing rallies as long as they do not hold them in markets where people are trying to earn a living. He called upon political actors to avoid unconstitutional politics because government would not allow it.

“If you want to organize the ‘Arab Spring’, we are not going to allow what happened in the Gulf to happen here. I am very happy that I have fulfilled my pledge to defend the women in markets from looting. Looting of shops has never happened during the NRM government,” he said.

On the issue of torture, President Museveni said that the NRM Government is against it. He revealed that he had talked to the security people in the social media video and reminded them of the rules of engagement when arresting. He, however, added that security would always come in if the political actors are indisciplined.

Democratic Party DP President Norbert Mao, Uganda People’s Congress-UPC faction president, Jimmy Akena, and Justice Forum’s, Asuman Basalirwa attended.

IPOD brings together political parties represented in parliament. This is the first time that political party leaders are meeting under the IPOD umbrella. The largest opposition party, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) snubbed the meeting.

IPOD is hosted and funded by the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD). Frank Rusa, the NIMD Country Representative and IPOD Executive Secretary in his opening remarks said it has not been easy to bring together the party leaders for the summit.

Attended the Inter-Party Organization for Dialogue (IPOD) Summit at Speke Resort, Munyonyo. The grouping is for parties with representation in Parliament. Dialogue is the beginning of democracy and I am glad to be at this function. I always welcome any opportunity for dialogue. pic.twitter.com/xaHURDHl7M

— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) December 12, 2018

Democratic Party President Mao earlier said the actions by political actors after the summit is what will give it meaning rather than merely meeting. He said there is a need of setting a goal of achieving peaceful transition in Uganda for the first time.

“We have had some difficulties that necessitated that we talk to each other and now have no excuse not to talk to each other,” he said.

Mao said the summit is about promoting political hygiene and cooling tensions between political actors.

UPC President Jimmy Akena added that, “whatever our individual differences, Uganda must win.”

Justice Forum Party (JEEMA) Chairman Basalirwa, said that the outcomes of the summit should be respected and hoped that they would create mutual respect among the political parties.

“What is fundamental is to assure the country and the world that this process is beyond the picture opportunity and the cups of tea,” he said.

Discussion in today’s summit was centered 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.

The summit  was attended by the IPOD Executive Secretary and NIMD Country Representative Frank Rusa, IPOD Council Chairman Fred Ebil, the NRM Secretary General Justine Kasule Lumumba, DP Secretary General Gerald Siranda, JEEMA Secretary General Kateregga Muhamad, Chief Whip of government Ruth Nankabirwa, NRM Deputy Secretary General Richard Todwong, and NRM Deputy Treasurer Kenneth Omona and members of the, Inter Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) and Elders Forum, diplomatic corps among others.

Katja Kerschbaumer, a representative from the Democratic Governance Facility commended the summit and said that dialogue was key step in generating consensus on the way forward.

“We believe that strong political parties are key pillars of democracy. Consensus on important issues on this agenda will go a long way in improving lives of Ugandans,” she said. Eiment Van Middelkoop, the Chairperson of Netherlands Institute for Multi-Party Democracy (NIMD) said the summit was the beginning of a new leg of dialogue and legislative progress in Uganda.

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