The Country Director of the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy, Primus Atukwatse Bahiigi, has urged for stronger political will and concrete action to empower multiparty politics in Uganda.
Speaking to Canary Mugume during Next Big Talk hosted by Next Radio on Monday, Bahiigi emphasized the need to translate dialogue outcomes into tangible measures that build trust among political parties.
"We need to translate the decisions reached in dialogues into concrete actions so that participating political parties can gain confidence in the institution of IPOD over time," he said.
Bahiigi noted that multiparty politics and political parties are not yet fully appreciated by the ruling class, which affects how decisions are made and resources allocated within the political landscape.
Bahiigi stressed that for political parties to thrive, there must be a stronger political will to create an enabling environment, including adequate funding and institutional support.
"The political will to create an environment that allows political parties to thrive is not yet there, and it must be strengthened so that factors such as funding can effectively reach political parties and enable them to function as they should," he said.
Highlighting the broader perspective, the NIMD Country Director reminded stakeholders that nation-building is a gradual process and that democracy is both a culture and a practice that must be nurtured over time.
