Dialogue is the way to go for Uganda

The heads of different political parties, with the exception of the Opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party, yesterday met in Kampala. The Ipod summit, which is the second of such big magnitude since the country went into multiparty dispensation, was convened in a bid to move the country forward despite the leaders’ political ideological differences.

Speaker after speaker emphasised national unity if the country is to move forward. Mr Norbert Mao, the Democratic Party president, and Mr Asuman Basalirwa of Jeema party, by way of showing togetherness with President Museveni, who was in attendance in his capacity as the chairman of the ruling party, the National Resistance Movement (NRM), offered him a cap and a fitting T-shirt as gifts, respectively.

However, this dialogue will only be meaningful if the proposals of the ‘small players’ are put into consideration and not just left on paper.

Some of such proposals were to see President Museveni attending the swearing-in of a new president who is not himself, no more restrictions on the movement of other political players such as Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine.

Since independence, Ugandans have never experienced a president peacefully handing over power to another. This is not the case with our sister partner states in the East African Community such as Kenya and Tanzania. Of course, Kenya has had its challenging moments, especially in 2007 when clashes broke out after elections, but the main political players have since realised their mistakes and put Kenya ahead of anything else.

Recently, during the requiem mass for the 41st US president George H.W. Bush, all the living former presidents, including Barrack Obama, Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, alongside their spouses, were seated on the same pew alongside the incumbent, Donald Trump. That was a sign of mature democracy.

Just like President Museveni said in his remarks yesterday, dialogue is the beginning of democracy, indeed such dialogues should be embraced if Uganda is to move forward.

Uganda’s largest Opposition political party, FDC, gave genuine reasons for opting out of the dialogue. The issues they raised, such as their party members being harassed by State agencies, should be addressed.

We, however, think this dialogue is a positive development and all political parties should be encouraged to participate. An honest dialogue is necessary and crucial for parties to resolve their differences and steer the country forward.