Kampala — THE leaders of political parties in Uganda have appealed to South African President Thabo Mbeki to prevail upon President Yoweri museveni to follow the law and create a conducive environment for everybody to compete fairly.

At a meeting at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala on Tuesday, the parties also appealed to Mbeki to intervene in the matter of detained FDC president Kizza Besigye.

The meeting, attended by Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Action Party (ap), democratic Party (DP), Conservative Party (CP), Uganda People's congress (UPC) and Movement for democratic Change (MDC) officials, was moderated by general duties minister Prof. Mondo Kagonyera.

FDC was represented by Ogenga Latigo, Salaamu Musumba, Wafula Oguttu and Augustine ruzindana, while Ssebaana Kizito represented DP.

Others were Ken lukyamuzi and Thomas Nyeko (CP), Nelson Ocheger of AP and Wagonda Muguli, Cecilia Ogwal and Patrick Mwondha for UPC.

Ruzindana said FDC told Mbeki, who was on a two-day working visit, that they were operating in a repressive environment.

"We asked him to be helpful in the circumstances," he said, adding, "Mbeki is an experienced negotiator. We asked him to prevail upon his colleague to follow the law and create a conducive environment for everybody to compete fairly."

"He (Mbeki) said he would talk to his colleague and keep monitoring the situation as it is," Ruzindana said.

He said Mbeki told them that he and Museveni had discussed the imprisonment and nomination of Besigye.

Lukyamuzi said he appealed to Mbeki to use his expertise in reconciliation to end the LRA war.

"We would like him to use the expertise he used in causing sanity to Burundi, DRC and Ivory Coast to cause the same in Uganda," he added.

He said they asked the South African leader to intervene in the case of Besigye "who is being terrorised because he is a big challenger to Museveni".

Muguli said UPC talked about the need for a truth and reconciliation commission and good governance, among others.