President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has slammed opposition parties for focusing on petty issues rather than critical issues such as prosperity of Ugandans and strategic security and future of Africa.
He said this on Wednesday during the Inter Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD) summit at the Speke Report, Munyonyo which the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) refused to attend.
“I do not understand how people purporting to be democrats can refuse to dialogue. If you express desire for leadership then qualify it with whom to talk or not talk to, you betray that mandate. It explains why even while fighting, I got time to talk to the Okellos in Nairobi,” said Mr Museveni.
Although the FDC did not attend the meeting, other opposition parties including Democratic Party, UPC and Jeema who have representation in parliament were all represented.
Norbert Mao, Jimmy Akena and Asuman Basalirwa – the presidents of the respective opposition parties sat at the high table with NRM’s Museveni.
Mr Museveni said that he has been accused of threatening to wipe out the opposition but he said the opposition risk wiping themselves out.
“Truth is, they are in danger of wiping out themselves because of miscalculation & leaving the NRM to offer solutions to all problems. As long as they oppose what Ugandans see as beneficial, they cause their own defeat,” Mr Museveni said.
Mao of the DP said the summit is about promoting political hygiene and cooling tensions between political actors.
The summit discussion was centred on four thematic areas; strengthening political parties to enhance their relevance and effectiveness, consolidation of constitutional and electoral reforms, promotion of inclusiveness in national politics especially in relation to the role of youth and women in politics and strengthening democratic governance, human rights and observance of rule of law.