NUP took IPOD money, says NRM

NUP denied claims by National Resistance Movement (NRM) Communication Manager, Rogers Mulindwa, who said that NUP was one of the beneficiaries of the funds given to opposition parties by IPOD.

Appearing on television, Mr. Mulindwa accused the NUP leadership of hypocrisy.

He said NUP received IPOD funds yet failed to turn up for any meetings.

“NUP took the IPOD money, but they don’t want to come for the sittings. They should accept the reality that NRM is the ruling party, come we work together, and get back to politics in 2026,” Mr. Mulindwa said.

However, NUP firmly disaffirmed Mulindwa’s claims by insisting that they have not and will not join IPOD nor has the party received any money from the dialogue platform for all political parties represented in the Uganda parliament.

“For the record, NUP declined to join IPOD for reasons well stated, and has not accepted any facilitation from them. We are aware of the funds given to political parties under IPOD, but we declined all of them, as long as Museveni continues to use it to legitimise his illegitimate gun rule,” NUP said.

The opposition party clarified that it only receives financial support through contributions from its members of parliament, on top of funds allocated by Parliament to the political parties in parliament.

“There are also several members who continue to donate, especially in support of medical treatment for injured comrades,” NUP added.

NUP says Mulindwa’s statements are part of a smear campaign by Museveni’s government to besmirch the party’s credentials as a credible alternative to the NRM.

Mulindwa, the party said, is just being used to carry this campaign forward.

“General Museveni and all those who work for him are liars. They have misruled our country through lies and propaganda. It is even more shameful that some of these liars are old enough to be grandfathers, yet they come out with straight faces to tell lies,” the party said.

IPOD was established in February 2010 after six political parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enhance cooperation and collaboration across party lines.

Despite being the leading opposition party in Parliament, NUP has declined to join IPOD claiming the dialogue platform is only used by “party principals to meet for a cup of tea, followed by a photo opportunity.”