The Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD) has asked the National Unity Platform (NUP), led by Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine, to formally submit an expression of Interest before it can be admitted into the dialogue platform despite NUP’s recent declaration of intent to sign the IPOD Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
In a letter dated October 10, 2025, IPOD Executive Director Dr. Lawrence Sserwambala Kabagabe welcomed NUP’s decision as “a positive step toward strengthening Uganda’s multiparty democracy,” but emphasized that the admission process must follow established procedures.
“The process of joining IPOD is distinct from merely signing the MoU. A political party seeking to join IPOD must express its interest in writing to the Secretary Council, stating its intent to participate in the organisation’s objectives and obligations.”Dr. Kabagabe wrote to NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya.
Dr. Kabagabe explained that the written expression of Interest constitutes the first formal and legal step before the IPOD Council can consider and approve a party’s membership and facilitate the signing of the MoU.
The application will be processed in line with the Political Parties and Organisations Act (as amended), which governs inter-party dialogue in Uganda.
NUP’s move signals a significant policy shift after years of boycotting IPOD. The turnaround follows President Yoweri Museveni’s assent to the Political Parties and Organisations (Amendment) Act in June 2025, which requires all registered parties to join either IPOD or the Forum for Non-Represented Political Parties to qualify for state funding.
Under the revised arrangement, the Shs3.1 billion Political Parties Fund is now reserved exclusively for IPOD member parties.
NUP, which previously received about Shs800 million annually, risked losing access to these funds due to its non-participation in the dialogue framework.
