Sserwambala’s remarks follow a closed-door meeting held on Tuesday at State Lodge in Nakasero, where President Museveni—attending in his capacity as National Resistance Movement (NRM) Chairman—hosted leaders of IPOD member parties. Security around the venue was tight, with sources describing the atmosphere as “airtight”—no aides, no note-takers, “not even a fly on the wall” was allowed near the room.
The most outspoken participant at the meeting was Democratic Party (DP) Secretary General Gerald Siranda, who sharply challenged the current trajectory of the platform.
Since then, Siranda has reportedly been difficult to reach, with several calls to his known phone numbers going unanswered.
Sserwambala later clarified that IPOD is currently under the rotational leadership of the NRM, a structure outlined in its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
“We recently met the President in his capacity as Chairman of NRM. Our MoU provides for these meetings,” he explained.
He also addressed the absence of the National Unity Platform (NUP) and the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) from the meeting.
“This isn’t a big deal given that NUP hasn’t signed the MoU that would bring it into the IPOD fold,” Sserwambala said.
He added that once a statutory instrument is issued by the relevant minister, NUP will be legally compelled to participate under the Political Parties and Organisations Act.
“I am not going to coerce a party to join,” he added. “The institution of IPOD will remain with or without particular parties.”
Responding to recent claims that IPOD is being used as a tool to marginalise dissenting voices, Sserwambala distinguished state funding from IPOD membership.
“The money NUP has been receiving from the government until the 5th of June has not been pegged to membership of IPOD,” he clarified.
He also emphasized that IPOD’s summit, not the President, remains the top decision-making body of the organisation.
n a sharply critical tone, Imam Idi Kasozi, a respected Muslim cleric and political commentator, denounced both the structure of IPOD and the conduct of parties that boycott it while benefiting from state resources.
“We have never taken critical time to understand what exactly IPOD is supposed to do in this country,” Kasozi said.
“Those who don't attend IPOD meetings are pretenders. All they do is pretense, but when it comes to resources, they rush for them.”
He went further, suggesting that financial motivations lie at the heart of IPOD’s survival.
“IPOD is largely about money. That’s where the debate is,” Kasozi declared.
With Uganda entering another politically charged cycle ahead of the 2026 elections, the fate of IPOD continues to hang in the balance—caught between competing visions of national dialogue and the entrenched reality of political self-interest.