Museveni slams opposition parties for being petty

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has slammed opposition parties for focusing on petty issues rather than critical issues such as prosperity of Ugandans and strategic security and the future of Africa.
He said this on Wednesday during the Inter Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD) summit at the Speke Report, Munyonyo.

The opposition parties raised issues of peaceful transition of power, strengthening democracy, unlevelled playing ground, Museveni's threat to wipe out the opposition parties, among other during the IPOD summit.

In his remarks, Museveni said as long as he is alive, he will be present to fight for the prosperity of Ugandans and strategic security of Africa.

These, he said are the reasons he joined politics, why he continues to be in politics and why he will stay in politics as long as he has the energy. 

Responding to petty issues of the opposition parties, Museveni said government is willing to make concessions on certain issues. For instance on the issue of organizing rallies, he said there should not be a problem if rallies are not put in markets, have clear messages and purpose.  

Museveni never denied saying he would wide out the opposition but argued that the context of the statement was misconstrued. He argued that opposition will wipe itself out of politics for making strategic mistakes and opposing NRM regime in everything.  
Democratic Party President Norbert Mao said the actions by political actors after the summit is what will give it meaning rather than merely meeting. He said there is a need of setting a goal of achieving peaceful transition in Uganda for the first time.  

Mao said the summit is about promoting political hygiene and cooling tensions between political actors.   
The summit discussion was centred on four thematic areas; strengthening political parties to enhance their relevance and effectiveness, consolidation of constitutional and electoral reforms, promotion of inclusiveness in national politics especially in relation to the role of youth and women in politics and strengthening democratic governance, human rights and observance of rule of law.