The Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD) has asked the National Unity Platform (NUP) to submit a formal Expression of Interest before it can be admitted into the dialogue framework — despite the party’s recent announcement of intent to sign the IPOD Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
In a letter dated 10 October 2025, IPOD Executive Director Dr Lawrence Sserwambala Kabagabe described NUP’s decision as “a positive step toward strengthening Uganda’s multiparty democracy,” but clarified that the admission process must follow established procedures.
“The process of joining IPOD is distinct from simply signing the MoU,” Dr Kabagabe wrote to NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya.
“A political party eligible for joining IPOD shall express its interest in writing to the Secretary Council, stating its intent to participate in the objectives and obligations of the organisation.”
According to Dr Kabagabe, the written expression of interest is the first formal and legal step before the IPOD Council can consider, approve, and facilitate the signing of the MoU. Once received, the application will be processed in accordance with the Political Parties and Organisations Act (as amended), which governs inter-party dialogue in Uganda.
NUP’s outreach marks a major policy shift after years of boycotting IPOD. The change followed President Yoweri Museveni’s assent to the Political Parties and Organisations (Amendment) Act in June 2025, which now requires all registered political parties to either join IPOD or the Forum for Non-Represented Political Parties to qualify for state funding.
Under the revised framework, the Shs3.1 billion Political Parties Fund is reserved exclusively for IPOD member parties. Previously, NUP received about Shs800 million annually, but risked losing access to the funds due to its non-participation in the dialogue platform.
