FDC Threatens to Boycott IPOD Summit Due to Continued Police Harassment

The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) in Uganda has threatened to boycott the Inter-Party Dialogue summit in May in protest over continued harassment of its party officials at the hands of police.  

 The President of FDC Patrick Oboi Amuriat stated that it would be hypocritical of them to carry on as if nothing had happened whilst senior party members continue to be harassed and have their party activities disrupted.

This is not the first time the FDC have boycotted the Inter Party Dialogue process, last November they stood back for the same reasons.

IPOD, which brings together political parties represented in parliament, is scheduled for its second summit on May 15 and is funded by the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD). Currently, IPOD members are drawn from the Democratic Party (DP), National Resistance Movement (NRM), Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) and Justice Forum (JEEMA).      

IPOD last week condemned police for harassment of party leaders and called for implementation of laws in a non-partisan manner. IPOD council chairperson, Gerald Siranda said the actions of police are against the spirit of last year’s IPOD summit, which called for respect of opposition parties when they organise events.    

“As IPOD council comprising of five parties in parliament namely; Democratic Party, National Resistance Movement,, Forum for Democratic Change, Uganda Peoples’ Congress and JEEMA, we strongly condemn the continued harassment of our members,” Siranda said during IPOD council press conference.”   

Amuriat told journalists at FDC headquarters in Najjanankumbi that the party is planning to also boycott all other donor funded activities if government doesn't stop harassing them. He said they will take their plight to international community and call for sanctions on Museveni and senior government officials who are at the centre of harassing politicians.