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.

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The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has re-assured the Muslim community in Uganda that Islamic Banking will soon be operationalised.

Kadaga who was presiding at the Annual Parliament Iftar dinner on Friday said that following the passing of the bill, the Minister of Finance was tasked with seeing that Islamic Banking is effected.

“I want to assure you that the Minister of Finance is here to inform us on how far Islamic banking is as we had made an undertaking on updating you on the same,” she said.

She also called on the faithful to always share what they have with the less privileged in society.
“While in hospital, I read a book about a Nigerian governor who gave a lot every Friday. He survived two plane crashes, one motor accident and I believe that was why the Lord saved his life,” she said.

In 2016, the Parliament passed the Financial Institutions Amendment Bill, which introduced the Islamic system of banking that allows for access to interest free loans with no collateral. Passing this Bill however, is subject to the establishment of a Central Sharia Advisory Board in the Central Bank to regulate Islamic banking.

The Minister of State for Finance, David Bahati assured the Muslim Community that the law was in operation to allow Islamic banking.
“I would like to inform you that the Members of Parliament did amend the Law to allow Islamic banking, which is now operational. So far one bank has applied and has been licensed, we are inviting all banks to come and take up this opportunity,” he said.

The Deputy Speaker, Jacob Oulanyah also graced the occasion and encouraged the Muslim Community to be generous in this period and assured them that he would be joining them in prayer.
“I will be praying with you during this time because God is God and we serve the same God. I have also seen so many of my old friends; this event has brought us together and we can remind ourselves of the bond we have as citizens of this country,” he said.

Parliament for six years has opened its gates to the Muslim Community to share in Iftar dinner. Iftar is one of the religious observances of Ramadan and is often done as a community, with people gathering to break their fast together. Iftar is taken just after the call to prayer Maghrib, which is at sunset.

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The European Union Ambassador to Uganda, Attilio Pacifici, has on Monday written to Matia Kasaija, Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, informing him of the release of Shs84 billion (EUR 20 million) to the Treasury for the Fiscal Year 2018/19 under the Financing Agreement for Justice and Accountability Reform, a sector budget support programme for a total value of EUR 66 million.

The programme aims to improve the governance of public funds and the management of taxpayers’ money for improved service delivery. It is implemented through the Justice, Law and Order and Accountability sectors and is expected to enhance their synergies.

According to the EU press release, the disbursement of the funds followed an extensive dialogue between the Government of Uganda and the EU on the progress of policy reforms in the two concerned sectors. An important milestone was reached with Minister Kasaija’s announcement on 21 February 2019 that Uganda will join the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). “The EU continues to work with the Government of Uganda to support progress towards the objectives of the National Development Programme II (NDP II),” reads part of the press release.

The Justice and Accountability Reform (JAR) programme is aligned in particular with the fourth objective of the NDP II in its quest for effective and efficient service delivery. JAR is composed of sector budget support of EUR 60 million and complementary measures of EUR 6 million, mostly consisting of technical assistance to the line ministries and agencies.

The five areas in which JAR seeks to achieve results are domestic revenue mobilisation and management for sustainable development, strategic planning and budgeting for enhanced service delivery, public investment management, service delivery in the Justice, Law and Order sector (JLOS) and institutional capacity to reduce public sector corruption.

JAR reinforces the collaboration between the accountability sector and JLOS for more effective anti-corruption measures. It links the different parts of the accountability chain, such as transparency, audit, investigations, sanctions, and prosecution. Other expected key outcomes are a reduction in case backlog and an increased automation of courts in the judiciary. JAR also supports Uganda’s preparations for membership in the EITI.

The programme will increase competition in public procurement, enhance the quality of public investment projects and improve access to legal services. Other tangible outcomes will be a lower number of un-sentenced detainees and a reduced backlog in the reporting on international human rights treaties Uganda has signed up to.

Ambassador Pacifici congratulated the Government of Uganda, stating: “The European Union is delighted that the Government of Uganda has met the ambitious pre-conditions for the transfer of these funds, including a substantial increase in the budgets of the JLOS and Accountability Sector and the decision to join EITI. We are looking forward to continued progress in the two sectors and to working with the Government towards meeting the conditions for the next payment”.

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