Mao asks IPOD to get "serious about dialogue"
The chairman of the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD), Norbert Mao has asked his colleagues in the body to get serious about dialogue and stop fighting each other.
Mao, who is the DP president, also questioned the relevance of these meetings if there are still impediments to freedom of assembly and association.
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His statements follow the rough treatment of Robert Kyagulanyi and Dr Kizza Besigye by security personnel. Both politicians have been prevented from holding concerts and political rallies respectively.
“If we do not believe in the dialogue, then we must stop pretending," Mao said.
“During the last meeting, IPOD members had scheduled 25th April, 2019 to hold a review meeting on the Public Order Management Act and another on 15th May 2019."
He said the conduct of the security forces was making engagement between political parties very difficult.
Political parties that make up the IPOD last met at Speke Resort Munyonyo this year which was graced by President Museveni.
Mao also said that after the Supreme Court ruling which upheld the decision to lift the age-limit, some politicians told him they had lost interest in IPOD.
“I have received calls from the presidents of JEEMA and FDC telling me that they do not find any interest to continuing after the have lost the age limit," said Mao.
“The purpose of IPOD is to keep communication lines open but the environment is becoming toxic for me as the chairperson who is supposed to chair the summit.”
