The NUP refuses to join IPOD, maintaining its position despite recent government pressure. Following President Museveni’s signing of the Political Parties and Organisations (Amendment) Bill, 2025, parties outside IPOD face the loss of Shs3.1 billion in annual funding. Established in 2009 and legally incorporated in 2021, IPOD aims to foster dialogue among Uganda’s political parties. However, concerns about IPOD favoring the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) continue to fuel resistance.
This new law restricts government funding exclusively to parties that participate fully in IPOD activities. Despite this, the NUP refuses to join IPOD and rejects what it calls forced engagement. Mr. Waiswa Mufumbiro, deputy spokesperson for NUP, told this publication, “To hell with their IPOD money. We will not participate in IPOD or forced dialogues. Our commitment is to end this tyrannical rule, not to chase funding.” Such a stance clearly reflects their priorities beyond financial incentives.
Last Monday, an IPOD meeting was held at State Lodge, Nakasero, chaired by President Museveni. Among attendees were secretaries general from the Democratic Party, Uganda Peoples Congress, and NRM. Gerald Siranda of the Democratic Party emphasized they met Museveni as NRM chairperson, not as Uganda’s president. Furthermore, the Political Parties and Organisations Act integrates IPOD into the National Consultative Forum (NCF), reinforcing the funding conditions. This framework explains why the NUP refuses to join IPOD despite potential losses.
Funding now depends on being a full IPOD member with an established party structure. As a consequence, parties like NUP lose government funding. In light of this, Minister of Justice Norbert Mao instructed the Electoral Commission to suspend all party funds temporarily. In response, the NUP refuses to join IPOD and has instead launched a Shs9 billion fundraising campaign to finance their election efforts and party activities independently.
Since IPOD’s inception, it has struggled to attract all political parties. NUP and the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) have consistently refused participation, citing IPOD’s alignment with NRM interests. This, they argue, undermines true political dialogue and limits opposition voices. Consequently, the NUP refuses to join IPOD to preserve its independence and political agenda.
