Mohammed Kateregga, the Secretary General of the Justice Forum (JEEMA) and former Bukomansimbi district Chairperson, has criticized opposition legislators for the ongoing funding stalemate affecting political parties within the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD).
In an interview with Bbeg Media, Kateregga threatened legal action over the current law on political party funding within IPOD.
“I blame the funding gaps for opposition political parties on our colleagues in Parliament who walked out when the matter was presented for debate,” Kateregga said. “We are now going to court to challenge the recent amendments to the Political Parties and Organisations Act.”
Kateregga accused some opposition legislators of ignoring issues of national importance and focusing instead on personal enrichment through large parliamentary perks. He noted that Speaker Anita Among, unlike her predecessor Rebecca Kadaga, complied with the law by notifying the Electoral Commission about MPs crossing over to other political parties. [WATCH VIDEO BELOW]
According to the new amendments to the Political Parties and Organisations Act concerning IPOD, only political parties that are members of the coalition and actively participate in its activities will be eligible for government funding.
If implemented, this law could exclude the National Unity Platform (NUP) from receiving funds, as it is neither a member of IPOD nor actively involved in its activities.
Kateregga stated that JEEMA is awaiting guidance from Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka on the implications of the amendments for the seven political parties represented in Parliament. He expressed optimism about the implementation of the new law, as promised by Norbert Mao, the minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
Despite his call for opposition unity, Kateregga dismissed the effectiveness of protest votes. He revealed that in a recent meeting with President Museveni, the president admitted that the National Resistance Movement (NRM) had been receiving IPOD allocations in an “unfaithful and unprincipled manner.”
Responding to recent accusations of selling out to the NRM made by Abdulnoor Ssentongo Kyamundu, the former JEEMA spokesperson who crossed to the Democratic Front (DF), Kateregga called Kyamundu a “political failure” who lacks consistency and direction.
He urged political players to learn from past mistakes in coalitions such as the Inter-Party Cooperation (IPC) and The Democratic Alliance (TDA) and to avoid infighting.
Instead, he emphasized the need to unite for a national cause.
On JEEMA’s recent nationwide recruitment campaign, Kateregga announced that the party has attracted 10 parliamentary aspirants from Busoga, 20 councillors, one district chairperson candidate for Iganga, and two parliamentary aspirants from the Northern Region (Lango, Omoro, Lira, and Apac).
He added that JEEMA will conduct primaries only for Bukholi North constituency, where two candidates are contesting.
Addressing economic issues, Kateregga joined other leaders in the Buganda in encouraging Bukomansimbi residents to grow more coffee to improve their livelihoods, despite falling global coffee prices.
