The opposition People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) has rejected Gen Salim Saleh’s proposed Consociational Democracy Agreement and set four conditions for joining any national dialogue with President Yoweri Museveni’s government.The party says talks must be independently convened, jointly planned, broadly representative and backed by an independent guarantor to ensure agreed resolutions are implemented. It described Saleh’s proposal as a possible return to the Movement political system.PFF argues the agreement offers no genuine political reform and may only create opportunities for selected opposition figures to access government positions.A few weeks ago, Saleh claimed that he was pursuing a political resolution with jailed opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye, and said an outcome could be reached within three to six months. Addressing heads of parliamentary committees in Kapeeka, Nakaseke district, he said he had reconnected with his former National Resistance Army (NRA) wartime colleague after a period of political estrangement.PFF, to which Besigye belongs, says it is not opposed to dialogue but will not join negotiations whose objectives, leadership and agenda have already been set by one side. Acting PFF president Dr Michael Lulume Bayiga asked why opposition parties should endorse an arrangement they had no part in developing.The four conditions1. A neutral convenerThe convener should be jointly agreed by government and opposition parties. Bayiga argued that government cannot pick the person or institution organising the talks and expect the opposition to see the process as impartial. The convener must be an independent, respected individual or institution able to manage negotiations, enforce procedures and treat all parties fairly. Otherwise, he said, dialogue risks becoming a monologue.2. A jointly developed agendaNeither government nor the promoters of the Consociational Democracy Agreement should set the issues alone, Bayiga said. Opposition parties should present their concerns and proposals before a common agenda is adopted. He listed constitutional reform, political freedoms, governance, national reconciliation and political exclusion. The party wants talks to identify Uganda’s political challenges and agree solutions, rather than present opposition leaders with a ready-made agreement.3. Broad representationBayiga said participants should go beyond government and opposition parties to include cultural institutions, religious leaders, civil society, the business community and representatives of Uganda’s historical communities. He said the country’s problems cannot be solved by a handful of political leaders, and referred to Uganda’s historical composition of “15 plus one” nations. He also warned against selected opposition figures negotiating on behalf of parties without their consent.4. An independent guarantorBayiga asked what would happen if the parties signed an agreement and government then failed to meet its commitments. The guarantor could be an individual, institution or government acceptable to all sides, with enough credibility and authority to monitor implementation. Without one, PFF argues, dialogue could end in another signed document with no meaningful change.“Goodies to share”Citing the appointment of Democratic Party President Norbert Mao as minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Bayiga questioned whether such appointments amount to genuine power-sharing.“Don’t be deceived that under that paper there is any power to share. There are only goodies to share,” he said.His remarks reflect PFF’s reading of the proposed agreement, not established provisions of the document.What PFF wants on the tablePFF is calling for a political transition after President Museveni’s four decades in power, a new constitutional framework, truth and reconciliation to address historical grievances, and independent state institutions free from political interference. It also advocates federalism, which Bayiga says would give historical communities more control over their resources and development priorities, and free and credible elections without intimidation.The party says these issues, not the sharing of government positions, should be the foundation of negotiations.Release of detaineesPFF has also linked its position to the continued detention and prosecution of opposition figures. Bayiga called on government to release those he described as political prisoners, including Besigye, Erias Lukwago, Obeid Lutale, Sam Mugumya, Sam Makoha and other opposition supporters.He argued that genuine reconciliation would be difficult while opposition leaders and supporters remain in detention. PFF wants the cases against them reconsidered and those needing medical attention given appropriate treatment. The party says it will adopt new approaches in its campaign for their release under the slogan “All for Freedom, Freedom for All.”The post Besigye’s PFF rejects Saleh’s proposed democracy agreement appeared first on The Observer Media Ltd.