We are ready for national dialogue - DP

He added that their failure to agree in 2011 was unfortunate, but it would have been more unfortunate if they had pretended to agree only to fall out in the face of the political realities of the day.

The Democratic Party (DP) has said they are committed to support the national dialogue this year with other democracy-seeking groups.

While addressing journalists at their weekly press conference in Kampala yesterday, the party president, Mr Norbert Mao, said they hope to agree on the agenda and come up with a roadmap that will give people hope that change is possible.

He added that their failure to agree in 2011 was unfortunate, but it would have been more unfortunate if they had pretended to agree only to fall out in the face of the political realities of the day.

“This time we need to work for an agenda-driven coalition,” he said.
Mr Mao added that there was a lot to be discussed like corruption, which has led to an increase in unemployment, where every year 300,000 Ugandans join the job market, yet there are less than 50,000 jobs available each year.

Poor services
“The education level is still very low because the expectations of creating Universal Primary Education and Universal Secondary Education are not yet met. Health services are not good because hospitals are under staffed and the staff that persist on working are underpaid, coupled with mismanagement of funds,” Mr Mao said.
Last year, the Uganda Peoples Congress ( UPC), asked for a national dialogue, but their attempts fell on rocky grounds after other parties gave a cold shoulder.

But in their last press briefing late last month in Kampala, the UPC officials said even this year, they would hold on their point.

The UPC vice-president, Mr Joseph Bbosa, said the national dialogue would help Ugandans to know the state of their country and they have to prepare for the way forward.

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