By Mulengera Reporters
Even in the absence of Patrick Oboi Amuriat and Robert Kyagulanyi-led delegations from key opposition parties namely FDC and NUP, political stakeholders on Friday converged at Gen Salim Saleh’s Kirema Heritage Farm in Nakaseke and talked stuff.
According to DP Secretary General Gerald Blacks Siranda (who chairs the IPOD Council) and NRM’s Godfrey Kiwanda Ssuubi (who chairs the National Consultative Forum NCF), the news of ex-Premier Ruhakana Rugunda’s involvement into the impending national dialogue (aimed at enabling Ugandans find common ground) was proclaimed during the Friday session hosted by Gen Saleh.
As Gen Museveni, who has reigned as President for 40 years without break, prepares to bid farewell to the people of Uganda, there is determination by Gen Saleh and his fellow thought leader Prof Ogenga Otunnu to ensure that Ugandans collectively turn a page while finding common ground as they prepare for a post-Museveni Uganda.
The duo is convinced that the days for winner takes-it-all politics must come to an end and a new political and governance path is forged for Uganda whose citizens are of the view that currently there is a lot that divides, rather than, unite them. In pulling off this feat, Gen Saleh is closely working with a lot of personal assistants and enablers including Dusman Okee, a brother to DP President Norbert Mao.
During the Friday session, which NUP and FDC boycotted on grounds that they weren’t comfortable with the venue neutrality and absence of equitable treatment inside IPOD, several other political actors and stakeholders were present or represented. According to Siranda, those present to welcome the refreshing news of Rugunda’s coming on board included representatives from parties cooperating under IPOD, NCF and proponents of Ogenga Otunnu-spearheaded Consociational Democracy Agreement (CDA).
Reflective of the fact that there have been several other prior efforts to foster dialogue, similar to what Gen Saleh is attempting right now, members present were informed of the fact that the President (a key stakeholder in every discussion on the future of Uganda) had backed the proposal to have the Ruhakana Rugunda-led Uganda National Dialogue (UND) Framework brought on board.
The UND had been established (on 18th December 2018) by Gen YK Museveni who facilitated and unleashed Ruhakana Rugunda, who was then Prime Minister, to lead it. Siranda and Kiwanda say that the bringing on board of Rugunda’s UND will help make the entire dialogue process broader and more inclusive, making the entire process come off as a “more structured stakeholder engagement towards political reconciliation, socioeconomic transformation and national cohesion.” (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
