The Forum for Democratic Change party has declined to attend a meeting with Gen. Caleb Akandwanaho, also known as Salim Saleh, at his Kirema Heritage Farm in Nakaseke District. This decision follows an emergency senior management meeting that raised concerns about the neutrality of the venue and adherence to established dialogue protocols. Gen. Saleh, the Chief Coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation, has been promoting a proposed Consociational Democracy Agreement to bridge Uganda's deep-seated political divides.
FDC party president Patrick Oboi Amuriat stated that his party believes in constructive dialogue to foster a better Uganda, but the Nakaseke engagement violates key principles agreed upon by political actors. The party had set out preconditions for a dialogue, including a well-crafted agenda, a neutral convenor, well-defined parties to the dialogue, a neutral venue, and a guarantor of the outcomes of the dialogue. Amuriat noted that the proposed meeting falls short of the requirement for a neutral venue, as they are being invited to Gen. Saleh's private farm.
Amuriat contrasted the farm invitation with the recently concluded Inter-party Organisation for Dialogue meeting in Jinja, which was held in a hotel, a venue he says was convenient to all parties and did not compromise their sanctity as an organisation. The FDC party president urged the Promoters of Consociation Democracy framework to respect the resolutions made during the Jinja meeting, where former Uganda Peoples Congress president Prof. Ogenga Otunnu and Gen Saleh's team presented the initial proposal.
According to Amuriat, the FDC received the document presented by Prof. Ogenga Otunnu and Gen Saleh's team concerning the meeting, and in response, the respective party presidents and secretary Generals agreed to return to their political parties and consult their various party organs on the subject within two weeks. Amuriat explained that internal consultations within the FDC are still ongoing and that the party had anticipated reconvening under the IPOD/NCF framework to present its official findings.
The FDC party was taken by surprise by the invitation for parties to interface with Gen. Saleh at his farm, Amuriat said. He challenged IPOD to arrange a formal session at a neutral location where Gen. Saleh can formally present his proposed agreement and engage in an honest, high-level and solution-oriented dialogue on the outstanding political concerns. Gen. Saleh serves as the Chief Coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation and is a younger brother to President Yoweri Museveni.
The boycott by the FDC follows a similar snub by the National Unity Platform party. Both parties have expressed concerns over the neutrality of the venue and the need for a more inclusive and transparent dialogue process. The Consociational Democracy Agreement aims to bridge Uganda's deep-seated political divides, but the opposition parties are demanding a more neutral and inclusive process.
The development has sparked a renewed debate about the need for a neutral and inclusive dialogue process in Uganda. The opposition parties are calling for a more transparent and accountable process, while the government is pushing for a more rapid implementation of the Consociational Democracy Agreement. The outcome of the dialogue process remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the opposition parties will not compromise on the principles of neutrality and inclusivity.
Key points
- FDC party president Patrick Oboi Amuriat cited concerns over venue neutrality as the reason for boycotting the meeting with Gen. Saleh.
