FDC party has turned down an invitation to be part of the third Ordinary IPOD Summit meeting that will be chaired by President Yoweri Museveni, this Friday, at Kololo Independence Grounds.
The FDC party spokesperson Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda says that their party President Patrick Amuriat will write to IPOD highlighting FDC’s reasons to excuse itself from the meeting.
The Kira Municipality legislator however reveals that Museveni is the main reason their party has opted out of the meeting.
“FDC party President Amuriat Oboi was tortured during the campaigns and is not in the right sense of mind to meet his tormentor. Our interaction with Museveni has made us come to the conclusion FDC has made,” says Ssemujju.
He adds that IPOD has been turned into a social club where you go, sit and feel good.
“We envy nobody. We know there are some of our colleagues who want to sit with our tormentor. We received the invitation but we declined this meeting,” he says.
He further explains that the FDC cannot have dialogue with Museveni when there are so many other human rights abuses in the country, endless abductions and illegal detention of Ugandans.
In response, NRM’s Secretary General Justine Kasule Lumumba says that when Uganda went multi-party, political parties decided to form the IPOD meant to discuss issues that affect Ugandans and so she expects FDC to attend.
“I would request FDC to come, and they raise the issues they have. FDC are the dominant opposition party in Uganda, don’t run away from your responsibilities. Come and expose us,” says Lumumba.
