KAMPALA — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Thursday officially handed over the Chairmanship of the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD) to Democratic Party (DP) leader Norbert Mao, urging Uganda’s political actors to embrace dialogue and shun violence as the country heads toward the 2026 elections.
Speaking at the IPOD Summit in Kampala, President Museveni likened politics to medicine, saying leaders must “diagnose society’s problems correctly” to offer the right solutions.
“A political leader should be like a doctor. If he makes a wrong diagnosis and a wrong prescription, the patients will not get cured. They may even die,” Museveni said. “When you have the right understanding and act right, the country will be peaceful. But if you are wrong and violent, that is how you get chaos.”
He outlined the National Resistance Movement’s four guiding principles—patriotism, Pan-Africanism, socio-economic transformation, and democracy—as the “correct answers” that have kept Uganda stable for four decades. The President stressed that even when parties disagree, “let them express their views peacefully, and then we’ll see whether we agree or disagree.”
The summit, held under the theme Together for a Peaceful and Sustainable Uganda, brought together leaders of all parliamentary political parties. IPOD Executive Secretary Dr. Lawrence Sserwambala said the gathering demonstrated “our shared belief that dialogue remains the most reliable path to peace, inclusivity, and sustainable democratic governance.”
“Uganda is watching us, and history will judge us by the choices we make,” Sserwambala warned. “Let us choose peace and a sustainable future for our beloved country by putting Uganda first.”
Outgoing IPOD Council chairperson and NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong highlighted key resolutions, including government support for political parties and the institutionalization of IPOD with a fully funded secretariat.
“Despite our differences, our collective commitment to dialogue has yielded meaningful recommendations,” Todwong said. “We can build a stronger, more inclusive, and accountable political system that serves the interests of all Ugandans.”
Accepting the mantle, DP’s Norbert Mao praised Museveni for previous gestures of clemency, recalling how dozens of detained activists were released after a 2021 IPOD meeting.
“Sometimes these little gestures are not appreciated, but they matter,” Mao said. “IPOD is about finding common ground because the unity of Uganda is paramount.”
Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) president Jimmy Akena reaffirmed his party’s commitment to dialogue even as he raised concern over the unequal treatment of teachers.
“We will always seek to pursue the dialogue option in order to overcome difficulties,” Akena said. “But I must put it on record that UPC stands with UNATU. We cannot separate scientists and arts teachers—they all build our future.”
Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) President Patrick Amuriat appealed to Museveni to exercise “the prerogative of mercy” and ensure that security forces do not harass opposition candidates.
“It is my expectation that the harassment we normally face from the military and the police remains history, so that we may have a peaceful election,” Amuriat said.
Justice Forum (JEEMA) president Asuman Basalirwa echoed the call for inclusivity and rule of law.
“The challenges afflicting this nation can be comprehensively addressed through dialogue, consensus, and constitutionalism,” Basalirwa said, decrying “inexplicable arrests and detentions” that erode public trust.
Sadam Gayira, PPP president, called for non-confrontational politics. He said that since he started engaging in politics 30 years ago, he had never been arrested.
He said his party was anchored on non-violence and was committed to the politics of dialogue and negotiation.
As Museveni handed the symbolic leadership baton to Mao, he emphasized that dialogue—not violence—remains the surest way to preserve Uganda’s hard-won stability.
“I want to thank IPOD for trusting NRM for the last five years with the leadership,” the President concluded. “I now peacefully hand over to Chairman Mao.”