The President of the Justice Forum (JEEMA), Asuman Basalirwa, has reaffirmed his steadfast commitment to structured political engagement and inclusive dialogue, underscoring his pivotal role in Uganda’s multiparty political landscape.
Speaking on his track record and ongoing advocacy for interparty cooperation, Basalirwa highlighted his legislative productivity and dedication to dialogue-based politics, asserting that his efforts in Parliament and beyond have positioned him among Uganda’s most active legislators.
“In the 11th Parliament, no MP has brought more private members’ bills than I have. You cannot count 10 best performing MPs and leave me out,” Badalirwa said.
Reflecting on his long-standing collaboration with political actors across the spectrum, the Bugiri Municipality Member of Parliament noted his historical support for National Unity Platform (NUP) President Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine, during the Kyadondo East by-election.
“I was the only political party leader who joined Bobi Wine’s campaign in Kyadondo. He came to campaign in Bugiri for me as a payback—it wasn’t out of the blue,” he said.
Basalirwa emphasised that his approach to politics is guided by principle, structure, and training, distinguishing him from populist tendencies that often dominate Uganda’s political discourse.
“For us who have been structured, programmed and trained through political processes, we are different. Because we are different, we are not easily understood,” he said.
Turning to the current debate surrounding the Interparty Organization for Dialogue (IPOD), Basalirwa reaffirmed IPOD’s founding commitment to inclusion and dialogue, urging all political players—especially the National Unity Platform—to participate constructively.
“NUP has all the legitimate rights to be in IPOD. Whoever has representation in Parliament should be a member of IPOD,” he said.
“In actual sense, it isn’t IPOD money—it is money appropriated by Parliament. IPOD is supposed to be purely about dialogue.”
Basalirwa further reminded stakeholders that JEEMA was among the founding members of IPOD, alongside the National Resistance Movement (NRM), Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Democratic Party (DP), and Uganda People’s Congress (UPC).
He reaffirmed that the organisation’s spirit was always rooted in inclusivity.
“As a founding member of IPOD, the spirit was inclusion. We should make sure that NUP is incorporated into the fold. I find no reason why NUP is kept out,” he said.
In September 2021, the IPOD Secretariat extended invitations to two political parties—the National Unity Platform (NUP) and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP)—to join the platform as new parliamentary entities. This came as IPOD initiated the drafting of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to replace the expired 2017 agreement.
At the time, NUP declined to join, citing that the platform had “been used to legitimise a repressive regime that shows little regard for democratic principles.”
However, in a correspondence dated October
7, 2025, NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya formally communicated NUP’s readiness to join IPOD, signalling a notable shift in the party’s stance.
In a reply dated October 10, 2025, the IPOD Secretariat welcomed NUP’s decision and expressed appreciation for its willingness to engage in constructive dialogue to strengthen Uganda’s multiparty democracy.
Citing Article 5.2.7 of the IPOD framework, the Secretariat reminded NUP that any political party seeking membership must first submit a formal written expression of interest to the Secretary to the Council before proceeding to sign the MoU.