FDC snubs second IPOD summit
FDC Spokesperson, Mr Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda (R) and his deputy, Mr John Kikonyogo addressing journalists at the party headquarters
The Opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) says they will not attend the second Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD) summit slated for Wednesday in Lira town.
Party spokesperson, Mr Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda described the upcoming meeting as a mere “social event.”
This is the second time the party is snubbing meetings organised by the coalition which brings together political parties that have representation in parliament.
These include the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), the Democratic Party (DP) Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Uganda Peoples’ Congress (UPC) and the Justice Forum (JEEMA).
The summit brings together leaders of the political parties and their secretary generals.
Mr Ssemujju said the reasons that prompted them to reject the invitation for the first summit have not been resolved.
The reasons, he said, include among others, the endless harassment of FDC leaders like former party president Dr Kizza Besigye, and the disruption of party events by security agencies.
“We are still under siege by various security agencies. Our legitimate rights to associate and assemble are still curtailed and the situation has gotten worse. We cannot speak to lower FDC leaders on whose behalf we transact business,” he said. “Who, therefore, shall we be representing at the summit?”
Mr Ssemujju argued that political parties have previously, through IPOD suggested electoral reforms which have been ignored by NRM.
He said that by attending the Lira meeting, political parties would be giving the impression that serious dialogue between political parties is going on.
READ:
Government to counter defiance as Besigye, Bobi team up
Different heads of security bodies and line ministers meet periodically to discuss matters of a security nature
ALSO READ:
Future of IPOD summit at stake over police brutality, says Mao
Mr Mao added that they had scheduled a conference to review the Public Order Management Act on April 25 but the conduct of security forces is making that engagement very difficult
