Youth under the Interparty Youth Platform (IYOP) led by the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Youth league have Friday met with the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate, Dr. Kizza Besigye who was still under house arrest at his home in Kasangati.
IYOP is a cooperation framework of youth leaders from eight political parties established in 2011 created to respond to a need to foster dialogue, networking, leadership development and exchange among youth of different political parties.
Parties under IYOP include; the National Resistance Movement (NRM) which is currently the chair, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Uganda Peoples’ Congress (UPC), Uganda Federal Alliance (UFA), Conservative Party (CP), Justice Forum (JEEMA) and People’s Progressive Party (PPP).
In their meeting with the FDC strong man, the youth expressed sympathy with his continued house arrest without clear reasons laid out by the police.
“IYOP is concerned about the continued house confinement of Besigye by police long after elections have ended and we sympathize with him,” noted IYOP Chairperson and NRM Youth league chairperson, Gaddafi Nasur outside Besigye’s home on Friday.
“Our meeting with Besigye was majorly to highlight the need for a national dialogue as the only cure for the current political situation in the country,” Nasur revealed.
“IYOP is concerned about the cases of violence in the country where youth have been disproportionately arrested and confined in various detention centers in most cases over politically motivated charges, while in South Western Uganda, citizens are up in arms with police leading to lose of lives.”
In light of the current political situation, he said, IYOP has pledged to meet with all national leaders to embrace peaceful dialogue as a means to resolve issues of national importance.
“We are happy that Dr. Besigye embraced our proposal and promised to continue working towards the same. He however noted that the only dialogue that he is ready for is the one that is inclusive and holistic in nature.”
“Besigye told us that the dialogue shouldn’t necessarily be involving him alone but bringing on board all national stakeholders to take part. His major call was for a clear transition plan and a need to foster National consensus on power balance.”
Nasur remarked that the group was to continue meeting with all the eight presidential candidates and other stakeholders over the matter.