The Democratic Party (DP) has pledged its commitment to champion political dialogue in Uganda. This was highlighted by the party’s Secretary General, Gerald Blacks Siranda, who is also a member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).  

Siranda, who was speaking at the DP headquarters in Kampala condemned the monopolization of politics in Uganda and called for consensus building for national development. He underscored the importance of consultations in a multiparty dispensation like the one Uganda is practicing.

The Secretary General of the Democratic Party, Siranda Gerald Blacks, who is also a member of the East African Legislative (EALA), said there is a need for political dialogue and consultations in Ugandan politics to guarantee sustainable peace in the country. He asked the government of Uganda to benchmark from other East African countries such as Kenya.

Siranda condemned corruption among top government officials and commended the police for doing their work. Several senior government officials have been implicated in the Karamoja iron sheets scandal. 

Siranda, however, urged the police officers to mind the way they treat members of the public who are expressing their freedom of speech. He asked the police to ensure that the public enjoys their rights as the police also perform their duties of protecting and serving the public.

Hon. Siranda noted that work is ongoing at border points of the East African Community (EAC) member states to create easy access to East African markets and address issues arising from non-tariff barriers.

He appealed to regional leaders to ensure that there is a single uniform policy for the management of refugees in East Africa.

Uganda officially became a multi-party state in 2006, following the 2005 referendum on political systems, paving the way for the formation and registration of new political parties and the renewal of older parties such as DP and the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC).  Previously, these parties had been confined to run their activities from their headquarters under Legal Notice No.1 of 1986.

Before that, Uganda had been a de facto one-party state since 1986, with the National Resistance Movement (NRM) or the Movement party holding power and outlawing opposition parties.

Gloria Irankunda