Govt, opposition talks set for May 3

By Henry Mukasa

THE Government will hold talks with the opposition on Tuesday, May 3. The meeting will be held under the auspices of the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD).

NRM secretary general Amama Mbabazi said leaders of political parties with representation in Parliament will meet to discuss “anything and everything.”


He added that the secretary generals of the political parties in the forum will meet today to draw an agenda.

“Using our position and having carried out consultations, President Yoweri Museveni, the NRM chairman, has convened a meeting of IPOD on Tuesday May 3,” Mbabazi announced.

“One of the things we will discuss because I know the opposition will bring it up, is these ‘walk-to-work’ demonstrations,” Mbabazi said.

He said an elders committee of the Inter-Religious Council had approached the Government to promote dialogue.

Mbabazi said while the Government agreed with the position of the clergy, they would not replace the IPOD mechanism.

He said the NRM, FDC, UPC, DP, CP and JEEMA all signed the memorandum of understanding, which discourages violence as a means of settling political differences.

Quoting from the memorandum, Mbabazi observed that the parties had agreed to “manage and mitigate political differences through constructive dialogue, without resorting to undemocratic and unconstitutional means, including violence.”

“We all signed. This is what we committed ourselves to,” Mbabazi remarked.

As Mbabazi addressed journalists at his office in Nakasero, the Police, the army and security agencies were arresting FDC leader Dr Kizza Besigye at Mulago.

Asked whether the violent arrest and brutal actions of the Police would not undermine the proposed talks, Mbabazi, who is also the minister for security, said he had no information on the latest arrest.

He said when Besigye skips the talks, it would be his choice and some other FDC officials could represent him.

Besigye was bailed out of Nakasongola prison on Wednesday.

Mbabazi disclosed that the Government asked the DPP not to object to Besigye’s bail so that he could attend the dialogue.

“The Government requested the DPP, although the DPP is supposed to be independent, so that Besigye can represent his party at the meeting.”