Comrade Katana Benjamin, who doubles as the Treasurer and Vice Chairperson of the National Consultative Forum (NCF), has come out strongly to clarify key issues surrounding NUP’s fundraising drive, public funding for political parties, and the controversial status of the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD). He remains firm that NUP’s fundraising goal for the upcoming election campaign stands at a bold UGX 9 billion. According to him, this target is realistic and necessary for the kind of ground-level mobilization and voter engagement NUP envisions.
On the topic of IPOD and its recent changes, Comrade Katana didn’t mince his words. He stated that IPOD was originally a civil society platform, essentially functioning as a non-governmental organisation (NGO). However, in recent weeks, there has been a suspicious attempt by certain individuals to turn IPOD into a tool of the state. This, he says, has been done by quietly amending the Political Parties and Organisations Act, so that political party funding is now tied to participation in IPOD dialogue meetings.
Katana emphasized that NUP is not just a participant in the National Consultative Forum — they are at its helm. As leaders of the NCF, he argues, IPOD is actually a department within their structure. There are now attempts to divide political parties by saying that only those with representation in Parliament will sit under IPOD, while others will be moved to a different department within the NCF. According to Katana, this move is both divisive and dishonest.
On the subject of public funding, Katana was clear and firm. He dismissed the narrative that NUP has been receiving funds through IPOD even while boycotting its meetings. He clarified that the funding NUP receives is lawful, constitutional, and entirely separate from IPOD. He pointed out that public funding for political parties is not new or unique to Uganda — it’s a common practice around the world. What is abnormal, he said, is trying to force parties into dialogue by tying funding to photoshoots and staged meetings with the head of state. “Genuine dialogue is built on mutual respect and consent, not manipulation,” he stressed.
With a strong call to support the UGX 9 billion fundraising goal and an unwavering stance on their role in the political arena, NUP continues to assert its position as a serious player in Uganda’s future financially.
