On Friday, a photo of President Museveni with opposition figures from FDC, NUP and others shook the internet, attracting backlash and sparking widespread discussion among Ugandans.
In the photo were Mawokota South outgoing MP Yusuf Nsibambi, who caught much of the public’s attention, NUP’s Latiff Ssebaggala, Moses Kabuusu of PFF, Roland Ndyomugyenyi of Rukiga County (Independent), and others at State House in Entebbe.
The main question for many was what they had gone there to do, with many speculating that they had gone to fetch money following their failure in the recently concluded general elections.
Following this, Nsibambi, while appearing on Sanyuka TV, cleared the air, explaining that the meeting was arranged by religious leaders under the Inter-Religious Council on January 7 before the election.
He said the aim of the meeting was to ensure peaceful elections and to plead with the President to free political prisoners among others.
Nsibambi revealed that the genesis of the meeting came from the tension he saw in the country before the elections, which made him contact five key people in the country, including IGP Abbas Byakagaba and Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama, who sat to pave the way for communication between all sides to ensure a peaceful election.
He explained that at first the President refused to meet them, saying he had the capacity to control the tension, but later gave them an ear and accepted the meeting on condition that the Inter-Religious Council must be involved.
Nsibambi said they convinced the President to free political prisoners, including big names in NUP who are behind bars, which he said Museveni accepted.
“The meeting was to ask the President to free political prisoners. He accepted, and in two weeks’ time you will see 10 prisoners, including NUP’s big men, coming out,” he said.
Nsibambi also refuted claims made by his party president, Nathan Nandala Mafabi, that his going to State House was not backed by FDC, saying it is Mafabi himself who sent him to meet the President.
“In that meeting I was representing FDC, and my party president sent me to represent,” he said.
He revealed that he received a message from the party’s secretary general welcoming him from the meeting. However, he added that the FDC NEC was not aware because what they were going to discuss was sensitive.
He also revealed that individuals from different political parties were part of the meeting, including the jailed NUP Deputy President for Northern Uganda, Lina Zedriga.
“All parties were represented except DP, including the Deputy President of NUP, Lina Zedriga,” he said.
He further revealed that it was not his first time meeting President Museveni, noting that he had met him three times last year.
“President Museveni is a leader chosen by the people. Last year, I met him three times,” he said.
