Listen to us, Uganda opposition tells Govt

By John Odyek and Vivian Agaba

Opposition political parties have asked the government to listen to their views or they will pull out of the National Consultative Forum (NCF).

Mathias Nsubuga, secretary general of Democratic said they supported the NCF, as platform for dialogue for political parties to dialogue. This was during the second meeting of the NCF held in Kampala.

“It is useless if we talk and nothing is done. If government does not listen we will stop coming here,” Nsubuga. NCF is set up the by Constitution and the Political Parties and Other Organisations Act 2005.

Nsubuga said they were concerned about issues of freedom assembly, economic problems, funding of parties, free and fair elections, democracy, safety, security of people and human rights violations.

The NCF is supposed to resolve disputes among parties, present views of parties to the Electoral Commission and ensure parties adhere to an agreed code of conduct.

Ruhakana Ruganda, chairman of the NCF said they were not under any political pressure to organize the meeting.

Rugunda also minister for information and communication technology and NRM chair of the Electoral Commission said they were implementing provisions of the Constitution which creates the NCF.

Rugunda who chaired the meeting the parties have to develop an agreed code of conduct and would also hold a retreat to discuss all the challenges facing parties in Uganda. Ruganda recalled that for Uganda to fight Idi Amin, they met in Moshi under the umbrella of the Uganda National Liberation Front headed by the late Yusuf Lule.

“Government firmly believes in this institution. We want to build the culture of parties working together. We should respect and listen to each other. We should a convergence of views on things that are important to Uganda although we remain as different parties,” Ruganda said.

Sam Rwakoojo, secretary of the NCF and also secretary general of the Electoral Commission noted that the law mandates the party in power to chair the NCF and FDC, which is the second biggest party, holds the position of deputy.

He said Uganda has 49 registered parties and all had been invited to attend. Rwakoojo said it taken time to form the NCF, because NRM delayed to appoint the chairman and last year opposition parties appointed Amanya Mushega, vice chairperson of FDC as deputy chairman of NCF.

Abed Bwanika, president Peoples Development Party said the forum was a good idea and parties were stakeholders in Uganda’s development process.

“There are issued to bargain from government which we do through NCF. The politics of Uganda has been one of violence. We need to dialogue,” Bwanika said.