Is the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD) working for the people, or just the politicians?
Hon. Gorreth Namugga, a Member of Parliament from the National Unity Platform (NUP), believes it’s time Ugandans started questioning platforms like IPOD that claim to advance political dialogue, but offer little in return to ordinary citizens.
“IPOD is not a government department. It was created to bring political parties together to discuss national issues. But years later, what exactly has it achieved?” she asked.
In a candid interview, Namugga didn’t hold back. She said it’s time for citizens to demand clarity and accountability from such a forum, especially when their impact remains invisible on the ground.
“Ugandans must ask themselves: What has IPOD done for me, my community, my school, my hospital? These are the real questions.”
Namugga explained that NUP’s refusal to participate in IPOD was not based on bitterness or isolation, but on principle.
“We are not in politics to collect handouts. If IPOD is simply a way for parties to access government funding without delivering results, then it goes against everything NUP stands for.”
She warned that dialogue without purpose or action becomes political theatre, photo ops, handshakes, and closed-door deals that exclude the people they claim to represent.
“Politics should not be about politeness at the expense of truth. It should be about impact, about transforming lives, not just meetings in air-conditioned rooms.”
According to Namugga, it’s not enough for political parties to say they’re in dialogue; they must show what that dialogue has changed for the better.
“If the conversations held under IPOD have never improved service delivery or brought meaningful reform, then citizens are right to question its value.”
She emphasized that true leadership is rooted in values, not convenience. And that’s why, she says, NUP chooses to walk a different path, one that refuses to participate in processes that lack transparency and people-centered results.
“We joined politics to change the system, not become part of the same old cycle. Dialogue must lead to impact, otherwise, it’s a distraction.”
Namugga’s message is clear: political platforms must serve the people or step aside. As she put it:
“Every Ugandan should ask: Who benefits from this dialogue? Is it me, or just the politicians at the table?”