The High Court in Kampala has dismissed a case filed by the National Unity Platform (NUP) seeking to compel the government to allocate it funds under the Interparty Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD) framework. The Court also ordered NUP to pay the costs of the suit.
In his ruling, presiding judge, Acellam Collins found that NUP had no legal basis to claim IPOD funds since the party had consistently refused to participate in the organisation’s activities. The Court observed that NUP had publicly distanced itself from IPOD since 2021 and only expressed interest in the funding on 7 October, after the government had already disbursed money to other member parties.
According to an affidavit by Lawrence K. Sserwambala, the Executive Director of IPOD, the government argued that NUP had been formally invited several times to join the dialogue platform but declined every invitation and refused to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that governs participation.
The Court agreed with this position, noting that funds under IPOD are strictly reserved for participating parties that are active in dialogue and policy discussions.
The ruling effectively ends NUP’s bid to access IPOD funding, which is intended to support interparty cooperation and strengthen democratic engagement among parties represented in Parliament.
Currently, IPOD members include the NRM, FDC, DP, UPC, and JEEMA. The NUP remains outside the arrangement, having declined to sign the MoU or take part in any IPOD activities since entering Parliament in 2021.
