Opposition Rejects Talks With Government

Mercy Nalugo

3 May 2011

Opposition leaders yesterday said they will not participate in today’s political dialogue called by President Museveni, saying there was no common agenda. Leaders from Forum for Democratic Change, Democratic Party, Uganda Peoples Congress, Conservative Party and Justice Forum (Jeema) also demanded that a neutral person at the level of a Chief Judge chairs any such meeting, and not President Museveni.

Mr Ken Lukyamuzi, who joined other opposition leaders and the Church in demanding the resignation of Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura, told Daily Monitor they would not meet the President until the government fulfils its demands set last week for talks.

“President Museveni cannot chair the talks so we need an impartial person. The international human rights office in Geneva should also attend,” Mr Lukyamuzi said.

Not without Besigye

Addressing a news conference at the party headquarters in Najjankumbi yesterday, FDC deputy spokesperson, Mr Bamwenda Toterebuka, said they could not be a party to dialogue in the absence of their leader, Dr Kizza Besigye, who is undergoing treatment in Kenya after his brutal arrest last week.

“It is not possible for the party to chart with the government without our leader. If you are the tormenter, how do you discuss with the tormented under such circumstances?” he asked.

The talks are aimed at finding a solution to the rising food and fuel prices, which have provoked unrest across the country for about a month.

The opposition last week set conditions that include withdrawal of the military from the streets, releasing all the walk-to-work detainees unconditionally, electoral reforms and the holding of fresh elections.

They also demanded an apology from President Museveni to all Ugandans for the brutal arrest of Dr Besigye. President Museveni said last Tuesday that he is ready to talk to them. But government Chief Whip Daudi Migereko, who is one of the NRM representatives to the planned talks, said the meeting shall not take place because they were still consulting.

“We were to hold a meeting on Friday and agree on the agenda but they [opposition] boycotted it so it will not take place today,” he said. Meanwhile, the Uganda Federal Alliance leader, Ms Beti Kamya (formerly a member of FDC), yesterday paid a courtesy call at FDC offices where she condemned Dr Besigye’s arrest.

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