KAMPALA – The opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has said the departure of President Museveni and formation of a transitional government are top of their agenda once they take over the rotating presidency of the Inter-Party Dialogue (IPOD).
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).
Last week, FDC said they are ready to assume the chair of the coalition that is currently held by DP Secretary-General Norbert Mao despite earlier refusing to be part of it.
And on Monday, October 28, 2019, FDC spokesman Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda said they are ready to take over the position.
“We want to reiterate our earlier position that the six-month term for our colleagues in Democratic Party (DP) ended in September and we expect them to hand over all IPOD instruments and reports. The FDC is the legitimate leader of the IPOD as per our Memorandum of Understanding. Whoever purports to be an IPOD leader is a masquerader who should be dismissed with all contempt,” he told journalists in Kampala.
“We have already outlined our agenda as IPOD leader which we will share with our colleagues. Top on the agenda is a discussion on Mr. Museveni’s departure and formation of a transitional government that should preside over the next general elections. We must not first shade blood like it happened recently in Ethiopia and Sudan for Museveni to know the country is ripe for a change,” he added.
Mr Ssemujju said the purpose of IPOD was primarily formed to cause political change.
“In fact that is why IPOD was formed in the first place. Financing political parties is important but it becomes irrelevant when their bonifide activities are brutally dispersed. Our discussion with Museveni should centre on his departure and not the government financing of political parties. The next leader should discuss and implement political parties’ financing,” he said.
