Lumumba says the Summit shall discuss the events witnessed in the just concluded elections such as violence, hate speech and sectarian talk among others.
Heads of Political Parties organized under the Inter-Party
Organization for Dialogue-IPOD are set to conduct their 3rd Summit on March 5th
at the Kololo Independence ground. IPOD brings together parties with
representation in Parliament to dialogue on issues affecting the country and political
players in the country.
Currently, the members are drawn from the ruling National
Resistance Movement-NRM, Democratic Party-DP, and Forum for Democratic
Change-FDC, Justice Forum-JEEMA and Uganda People's Congress-UPC.
The IPOD
Council, which comprises Secretary-Generals of IPOD member parties, sat on
February 23rd 2021 under the leadership of the NRM Secretary-General
Justine Kasule Lumumba and resolved to convene a summit under the theme
“Dialogue for National Cohesion”.
President Yoweri Museveni, who is the Chairman of the NRM, being the party
currently at the helm of the IPOD shall chair the summit. Lumumba says
the Summit shall discuss the events witnessed in the just concluded elections
such as violence, hate speech and sectarian talk among others.
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The resolution from the previous summits includes increasing government funds
given to Political Parties from Shillings 10 billion to 35 billion. The
resolution was partially implemented last year when Parties were given
Shillings 30 billion. However, members are still challenging the numerical
strength formula used to share money.
The Formula earns NRM the majority share since it has more
MPs in Parliament. Members propose that at least 60 percent of the money be
shared equally and 40 percentages based on numerical strength. The Summit
previously proposed regulations for Implementation of the Public Order Management
Act- POMA. They sought a clear definition of the term authorised officer as
referred to in section 3 of POMA.
The section talks about notifying the Inspector General of
Police IGP or an authorised offer before holding a public meeting. They also proposed
that the government decentralizes the function of the Inspector General of Police
under the Act such that organisers of an even don’t have to travel to Kampala
to notify the IGP.
They sought clarification of the rank or level of police
officer authorised to receive the notification. The regulations are yet to
be tabled and passed by parliament. Lumumba further revealed that the Summit shall discuss the admission of other
parties who won seats in the next parliament.
The National Unity
Platform-NUP shall be a new party in Parliament and a dominant opposition
party. If admitted, the NUP shall be the next leader of IPOD upon the elapse of
NRM's six months tenure on May 22nd 2021. The leadership of IPOD is
rotational and follows the alphabetical order. Lumumba says since the current
Memorandum of Understanding- MoU is between the current five members, the
summit shall take a decision on expanding membership.
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Other IPOD members, the UPC, JEEMA and UPC have committed to take part in the
summit. The Secretary-General of DP, Gerald Blacks Siranda says DP embraces
dialogue as a way to iron out grievances and seek solutions to the challenges
in the country.
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UPC’s Fred Ebil and JEEMA’s Muhammad Kateregga committed their parties’
participation in the upcoming summit for dialogue. However, the Forum for
Democratic Change-FDC shall not attend the summit just like it was in 2018 and
2019. Ibrahim Semujju Nganda, the party Spokesperson says they cannot be seen
to sit with a person jailing and torturing Ugandans.
FDC wants the President to set free Ugandans jailed
innocently and stop horrendous acts against the citizenry. Lumumba says
the IPOD can’t compel the FDC to attend the Summit although their voices could
be important.
