Africa-Press – Uganda. The National Unity Platform (NUP) has dismissed threats by Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister, Norbert Mao, to cancel political funding to the party if it fails to join the Inter-Party Organization for Dialogue (IPOD).
Speaking to the press on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, Minister Mao announced that five political parties, including the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Democratic Party (DP), National Resistance Movement (NRM), JEEMA, and Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), had signed on to work together under IPOD. Mao also revealed that the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) had written to IPOD, expressing interest in joining.
However, NUP spokesperson, Joel Ssenyonyi, was quick to respond, stating that the party would not be coerced into joining IPOD. Ssenyonyi accused Minister Mao of attempting to blackmail NUP into joining the dialogue forum.
“If Minister Norbert Mao thinks that by threatening to cancel political funding to NUP, he will force us to join IPOD, he is wrong,” Ssenyonyi said.
Ssenyonyi emphasised that NUP is committed to upholding the law and pointed out that the party’s treasurer, Benjamin Katana, serves as the vice president of the National Consultative Forum, as established by law.
The standoff between NUP and Minister Mao raises questions about the government’s commitment to inclusive dialogue and the role of opposition parties in Uganda’s political landscape.
As the 2026 general elections draw near, the tension between NUP and the government is likely to escalate, with IPOD membership emerging as a major point of contention.
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