Second IPOD meeting in Entebbe hangs in balance

Empty seats that were prepared for leaders of political parties. Photo by Abubaker Lubowa

The second Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD) Summit that was slated to start in the morning at Protea Hotel in Entebbe, hangs in balance.

IPOD is a coalition of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), the Democratic Party (DP) Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Uganda Peoples’ Congress (UPC) and the Justice Forum (JEEMA).       

According to the programme, the interim IPOD chairman, Mr Norbert Mao, the president of DP, was expected to make an opening statement in the presence of other leaders of Uganda’s political parties which have representation on Parliament, at 9:30 am.

However, according to officials of the IPOD Summit, the conveners of the meeting, the delay was caused by the absence of Mr Museveni, the chairman of NRM, who was reportedly went for attending a Cabinet meeting at State House Entebbe.

Invited guests are yet to take their seats. Photo by Abubaker Lubowa

Mr James Akena, the president of UPC and Mr Mao were at the venue before 9:30 am.

Although Mr Basalirwa, the president of JEEMA is not yet at the venue, several senior members of the party are present.

FDC leaders who last week announced that they would not attend the meeting, honoured their promise.

IPOD delegates were expected to have a closed meeting where they would discuss issues like the controversial public order management, electoral systems and other electoral reforms, public funding of political parties and the question of independents in a multiparty political system.

After the closed-door meeting, the political parties principals were expected to issue a joint statement.