Why Ugandan Political Party Presidents Should Meet, IPOD Summit

PARTY PRESIDENTS TO MEET & DISCUSS NATIONAL ISSUES

 The Interparty Organization for Dialogue (IPOD) is set to hold its first Summit scheduled for 12th December 2018 at Speke Resort Hotel, Munyonyo.

Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) Program Manager, Dr. Lawrence Sserwambala confirmed this at a press briefing at the IPOD offices in Ntinda. The theme for the first IPOD Summit is “Strengthening Multiparty Governance in Uganda”.

This follows a meeting held by IPOD officials, which comprises of all political party representatives in Uganda’s Legislative arm, with NRM National Chairman Yoweri Kaguta Museveni earlier this month at State House in Entebbe.

Museveni tasked all political parties to unite forces and fight electoral violence which he noted was becoming rampant in the country, citing the recent attacks in Arua. The NRM chairman further pledged to dialogue with all political actors under IPOD, to discuss issues that would lead to the betterment of the country.

IPOD whose secretariat sits at the country office of the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy(NIMD) in Ntinda hosted the Secretary Generals of Democratic Party (DP) Dr. Siranda Gerald Blacks, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Hon. Nandala Nathan Mafabi, Justice Forum (JEEMA) Hon. Muhamed Kateregga, the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) Rt. Hon. Justine Kasule Lumumba, and the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) Secretary General Hon. Fred Ebil who also doubles as the IPOD Council Chairman.

(Right,Secretary General of Democratic Party (DP) Dr. Siranda Gerald Blacks)

NIMD is an international NGO that seeks to facilitate interparty dialogue and political capacity strengthening in 25 countries around the world and hopes to foster a well-functioning, strong and vibrant multiparty democracy.

Emphasizing the importance of the first IPOD Summit at which all political party chairpersons are to sit, Hon. Lawrence Okae, UPC Chairman, who was representing the IPOD Council Chairman said the agenda will cover the following areas;

 

  1. Strengthening Political Parties to enhance their relevance and effectiveness;
  2. Enacting Constitutional and electoral law reforms to improve the functioning of Uganda’s multiparty system;
  3. Promotion of inclusiveness in politics especially regarding the role of gender and youth; and,

Improving governance, human rights and the observance of the rule of law.

(From left to right . FDC Representative Salmu Musumba shares a light moment with UPC Chairman Lawrence Okae moments before the press briefing at the IPOD Secretariat offices in Ntinda.)

Speaking at the briefing, Dr. Sserwambala added that the Summit was the first of its kind to ever be held in Uganda and would help validate the role that dialogue can play in multiparty politics. “This is the first Summit which IPOD and NIMD are organizing and it will provide a unique platform where all political actors can meet at a round table and discuss issues which are essential for the development of Uganda,” Sserwambala said.

Salamu Musumba, who represented FDC added that dialogue was a topic, much long overdue on the agenda and that each political party was mandated to contribute to this agenda item extensively. “We appreciate the fact that consensus does not come overnight. But as country, we need dialogue! It is long overdue and the IPOD Summit is giving us a good platform for that to happen,” she said.

(Musumba, in red addresses media at the briefing)

NIMD also established the Political Party Capacity Strengthening Facility (PPCSF) in 2014 for member parties of IPOD focused on improving the organizational capacities and effectiveness of Political Parties in the country.

(IPOD party Heads pose for a picture after the briefer. From L-R, FDC (Salamu Musumba), UPC (Lawrence Okae), DP (Gerald Siranda Blacks), JEEMA (Mohammed Kateregga) and (Balinda Siraj).

About Interparty Organization for Dialogue (IPOD)

The Interparty Organization for Dialogue is a forum established in 2010 with support from NIMD and the main political parties in Uganda, for the sole reason of facilitating inclusive talks between political parties and figures in Uganda with the aim of building trust and creating mutual relationships among them. IPOD’s current membership includes Democratic Party (DP), Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Justice Forum (JEEMA), National Resistance Movement (NRM), and Uganda People’s Congress (UPC).

 

About The Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD)

The Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy works to promote peaceful, just and inclusive politics worldwide. The institute is non-partisan and driven by democratic values. In Uganda, our overall objective is to help foster a well-functioning, strong and vibrant multiparty democracy since 2009. Our main pillars are interparty dialogue and strengthening the capacity of political parties by working with more than 150 political parties from 25 countries in Africa, Latin America, Asia and Eastern Europe.

About Post Author