By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
BUIKWE
The opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has said it will not attend the swearing-in ceremony of President Yoweri Museveni scheduled for Tuesday at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, citing what it described as irregularities in the recently concluded elections.
FDC party president Patrick Oboi Amuriat made the announcement on Sunday during the party’s retreat in Buikwe District.
Last week, the secretary general of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), Richard Todwong, said all opposition parties, registered political parties and political movements in Uganda had been invited to President Museveni’s seventh inauguration ceremony due to take place at Kololo on Tuesday, May 12.
Amuriat acknowledged receiving the invitation but said the FDC would boycott the event.
“Yes, we have been invited. We are not going to be part of the celebration because there is really nothing to celebrate in a win that has been forced on the people of Uganda,” Amuriat said.
Todwong said the NRM remained open to engaging political actors willing to cooperate with the ruling party.
“As the National Resistance Movement, we are open and ready to work with anybody willing to join hands with us. Whether they attend or not is up to them, but the invitations will go out,” he said.
In response, Amuriat said the FDC was open to reconciliation and dialogue, provided the process was genuine and conducted on equal terms.
“We have always been open to dialogue. But the kind of dialogue that we want is honest dialogue, where there is seriousness and where we go as equal partners, not subordinate partners,” he said.
He added that any reconciliation efforts should be driven by a genuine desire to promote national stability.
“If there is anything to reconcile, the ball is in the court of the person who is in power. Let this not be for the fun of it, but let it be genuine dialogue drawn out of the desire to have a stable country,” Amuriat said.
The FDC also said it would continue with the nationwide induction of its elected leaders in Parliament and local governments, focusing on budgeting, oversight, legislation and governance.
