Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy

NIMD’s Africa Regional Programme conference is being hosted by the Ugandan political parties who, on 5 February 2010, launched an interparty dialogue platform known as the Interparty Organisation for Dialogue, (IPOD). The conference brings together politicians from nine countries to discuss the electoral cycle and democratic reforms in Africa, and their partnerships with NIMD.

In addition to the presence of representatives from the six parliamentary parties in Uganda, President Museveni’s attendance at the conference is a highly symbolic political gesture, the significance of which was not lost on the conference attendees.

The President entered the conference venue together with several ministers from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and attendees were treated to an a capella version of Uganda’s national anthem, ‘Oh Uganda, Land of Beauty!’.

Hon. John Kuwanga of the Democratic Party (DP) and the current chair of IPOD, described the latter as a ‘ray of hope’ for Ugandans. He spoke about the way in which the IPOD was set up and about the small steps that have been taken since its inception, including several amendments to the country’s electoral laws.

The Secretary General of the NRM, Amama Mbabazi, then made a speech, in which he thanked NIMD for “the invaluable role it has played in helping to promote democracy in Uganda and across the African continent. This is indeed an expression of solidarity.”

Mr Mbabazi then called on President Museveni to address the conference. In a frank, wide-ranging and entertaining speech, the President reaffirmed his government’s commitment to dialogue and discussion, as well as thanking NIMD for contributing to the dialogue currently underway in Uganda.

The President also used the occasion to reflect upon the challenges facing many countries in Africa which, unlike previously colonised nations elsewhere, still struggle to attain a higher standard of living. He challenged the participants to focus not only on form but also substance, and to concentrate on the bottlenecks currently hindering development.

Despite these challenges, the President maintained, the responsibility for continuing the dialogue that makes democratic and economic reforms possible “remains with us, the African people.”

“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the National Resistance Movement … has always worked to promote the politics of dialogue and accommodation. Even when we took up arms against dictatorial regimes in the 1970s and 1980s we saw the building of a broad coalition against dictatorships through dialogue – very broad-based, the broadest possible coalition.

“This was not easy, particularly in the face of opportunism in our political class regarding what the fundamental dictums of the struggle were but we never gave up trying.”

The President went on to argue that dialogue must be based on issues that are important to the African people, emphasising the importance of ‘social-economic transformation’ and ‘the common good’, especially in relation to the role of the opposition in introducing alternative policies.

“We should not base political competition on the personal issues of individual actors but on the competition of programmes and ideas,” he said.

He also thanked the six Ugandan political parties for their efforts to open and maintain dialogue before officially declared the conference open.

Roel von Meijenfeldt, NIMD’s Executive Director, responded on behalf of NIMD and the conference participants, thanking the President for his inspiring speech, which he said “has set the agenda for our conference”.

The three day conference, being held near Kampala, Uganda, brings together party leaders from all of the countries in the African Regional Programme, as well as members of parliament and staff of the various Centres for Multiparty Democracy (CMDs), under one roof.

It constitutes an important opportunity for NIMD to learn from its partner organisations in Africa, and input from the conference will feed directly into NIMD’s preparations for its forthcoming five year plan for 2011-2015.

The full text of President Museveni’s speech will be available online shortly.