“The post-Amin UNLF consensus likewise collapsed in a bloody heap,” the DP party noted.
Kampala, August 3, 2022: The Democratic Party (DP) says Uganda needs a new consensus, less than a month after their cooperation deal with the NRM party.
“According to a framework document for dialogue published by the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda, “Uganda’s 56 years of independence are best described as a mixed record of progress, broken promises, unfulfilled commitments and missed opportunities,” Okoler Opio Lo Amanu, DP Spokesperson noted in a press statement.
“The single most important challenge that we face today is not that we have not made progress as a country. On the contrary, the challenge is that we are held back by our turbulent history and the apparent fear of the future.”
“Our mission as a generation is to draw lessons from the processes of negotiation and dialogue we have been engaged in and build on the progress we have made so far to build a future that is more stable, peaceful and prosperous.”
According to the DP, Uganda(ns) has moved from amity to enmity. “A promise has become a problem. What was once seen as a glorious triumph is now seen as a tragic error.”
The current wave of insecurity and economic hardships are but bitter fruits of a tree whose roots are political. These problems are a symptom of regime decay compounded by the lack of an inbuilt system for self-renewal.
“The decay has resulted in unprecedented and pervasive corruption, nepotism, greed, incompetence and political intolerance.”
“We have a foundational problem. That foundational problem is the lack of a prevailing national consensus. To find a solution we, therefore, have to deal with the cracks in the foundation of our country. Previous attempts at building a lasting national consensus have failed.”
Now in the same accord with the NRM and President Museveni, Mao’s led party says the Luwero Consensus has collapsed just like the Lancaster House Consensus. “The post-Amin UNLF consensus likewise collapsed in a bloody heap,” the party noted.
Read remaining part of the statement below:
“Our nation is hurting. It needs healing. We need a new national consensus. Building a new consensus is the most urgent task at hand for those who care about the future of our country. This will require us to talk to one another despite our disputes and differences.”
“We, therefore, reiterate our call for a national dialogue on the future of our country. We have to face the fact that the responsibility to construct the post-Museveni Uganda lies with all of us.”
“If nothing else, the agony of our long-suffering people, the broken promises they have endured and their unfulfilled dream of peaceful change should compel us to pursue honest dialogue aimed at giving our country a new beginning.”
“With the Cooperation Agreement signed between DP and NRM, we have turned the page ushering in a New Chapter of Constructive Engagement instead of mutual destruction. This opportunity is for all Ugandans after all the Agreement is about putting Uganda First.”
“The National Dialogue will answer many questions. How can we trust elections that have degenerated into empty rituals? What is the use of a constitution when those supposed to defend the constitution rape it repeatedly? Rule-based politics has been completely undermined by the incumbent regime leading to radical extremism on both sides of the political divide.”
“Unfortunately the end result of all this will be the fragmentation of our country. It is our considered collective responsibility to do everything possible to unify the country and give it a new direction.”
“We must allay the fears Ugandans have about the future. We must spread hope, not fear.”
While these foundational issues preoccupy us, we have not forgotten the urgent problems we face as a country. These include acute poverty, rising unemployment, unsustainable debt, corruption and the high cost of living. We repeat our call for the government to cut taxes on fuel.”
“This will dramatically reduce the cost of production and transportation of essential commodities.”