President Yoweri Museveni, also the chairman of the NRM party has said that dialogue is essential for the bright future of Uganda and that whoever disagrees with it is not a democrat. Speaking the Inter-Party Organisations for Dialogue (IPOD) summit at Speke Resort ;Munyonyo, the president however said dialogue should be beyond politics as there […]
President Yoweri Museveni, also the chairman of the NRM party has said that dialogue is essential for the bright future of Uganda and that whoever disagrees with it is not a democrat.
Speaking the Inter-Party Organisations for Dialogue (IPOD) summit at Speke Resort ;Munyonyo, the president however said dialogue should be beyond politics as there are other important issues like prosperity and security that ought to be addressed.
The president said this after Democratic Party President General, Norbert Mao hit the point right on the head when he told him to aid-in a peaceful transition of power.
Mockingly, Mao, who gifted Museveni with a green DP Cap assured him that it would be wonderful for him to attend a swearing-in ceremony of the president who is not him.
“Our goal now is for the country to see a peaceful transition of power, to see an army serve more than one regime. And Mr President, it will be wonderful if you attend a swearing-in ceremony of a President who is not you,” he said causing cheers from the crowds.
Justice Forum Party president, Asuman Basaalirwa also hinted on the same, but stressed the need to ensure political freedom is respected.
‘’We are here to get assurances and commitments that from today onwards, this country must be guided by Human rights and freedoms as they appear in our constitution. We are here to get assurance and commitment that associational freedoms must be respected. We cannot live in a country. We cannot talk about multipartism, without the critical aspects of the associational freedoms.’’ Asuman said .
In Response, president Museveni said there are other urgent issues to address;
‘’Because I hear people like Mao talking about transition, how he would like to sit in the audience and see Museveni handing power; that is the most important thing for him. I don’t think really that is the most important. ‘’ He said
He added that, ‘’This is reason number one I’m in politics; It’s about the prosperity of our people. If you don’t deal with this; your talking only about elections. Elections for what? To do what ? To have new MPs? So, they do what? To have a new president so that he does what? Me I’m in politics because of the prosperity of our people. Number two, strategic security ; How can Africa be secure? Why was Africa colonized in the first place? ‘’
However, while all other parties with representation in parliament attended the summit, the largest opposition party – Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) defiantly made no show.
The Summit chairperson, also UPC president Jimmy Akena however said FDC remains a key member of the IPod and that its members requested to briefed about the outcomes of today’s summit;
