The Spokesperson of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Semujju Nganda, has confirmed that the party will not participate in the May 15, 2019 inter-party organisation for dialogue (IPOD) Summit that is scheduled to take place in Lira.
Semujju said they will not attend because they are still under siege by various security agencies. “Our legitimate rights to associate and assemble are still curtailed and the situation has even gotten worse. We cannot speak to lower FDC leaders on whose behalf we transact business. Who therefore shall we be representing at these summits?”
He said they have agreed and processed both political and constitutional reforms as IPOD members before and the NRM said there was no time to process them. Five years later, these reforms are not being processed. Instead, the NRM and its chairman have forcefully and illegally changed the Constitution to remove yet another safeguard against life presidency.
“There is no favorable atmosphere in the country for a meaningful dialogue. We call upon religious leaders and the Elders who are organizing similar engagements not to engage in futility. Restoration of citizens’ rights and freedoms in a more urgent matter than socialization events in big hotels. The FDC will continue carrying out mobilization and sensitization of citizens.” He said at party headquarters earlier in the day.
In Dec 12, 2018 FDC snubbed IPOD meeting for among others, the closing of doors for JEEMA and C conservative party (CP) yet they were among the founders. “We excused ourselves from IPOD because we wanted them to sort themselves mainly on the issue of leaving JEEMA and CP out yet they were among the founders, there are many question than answers and NRM never considered opposition parties as it is stated in Memorandum of Understanding,” he said last years.
Currently, IPOD houses for four parties which include; Democratic Party (DP), Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) and National Resistance Movement (NRM).
IPOD is facilitated by the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) and was formed to initiate dialogue and exchange of ideas among political parties in the country with a view of improving electoral democracy.
