On 12th december2018, President Yoweri Museveni attended the Inter Party Organisation for Dialog in Munyonyo as Chairman of the National Resistance Movement together with Norbert Mao, President Democratic party, Asuman Basalirwa of JEEMA and Akena Jimmy President of Uganda Peoples Congress.
Below is an abridged statement by the President and Chairman NRM, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni:
Attended the Inter-Party Organization for Dialogue (IPOD) Summit at Speke Resort, Munyonyo. The grouping is for parties with representation in Parliament. Dialogue is the beginning of democracy and I am glad to be at this function. I always welcome any opportunity for dialogue.
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.
Prosperity & Strategic security of our people are some of the key things that drove me into politics. We must ask the question; how can our people prosper? Leaders must attend to the issue of their people’s prosperity, irrespective of the number of transitions a country has.
On strategic security, the question is around making Africa secure. Why was Africa easily colonized yet the Europeans failed to colonize China, Japan?
We were colonized because of incompetence and bankruptcy of our chiefs. They wore lion skins, and other regalia but could not defend their continent against external aggression. Politics therefore should be about survival and destiny of our people.
To address issues raised by Honorable Norbert Mao and Honorable Asuman Basalirwa; freedom to associate, we have no problem. What we take issue with is politicians assembling in markets and disrupting people’s businesses.
We also take issue at times with motive and message of these gatherings. We will not accept political actors who purport to use constitutional means to engage when actually they have another leg in unconstitutional arrangements. That we shall not allow.
On the issue of torture, we are against it. I spoke to the soldiers who were caught on video beating up people. I have given them guidelines but I urge political players to be disciplined.
I have been accused of threatening to wipe out the opposition. 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.
ENDS