Bobi Wine Among Political Party Leaders Set to Receive IPOD Vehicles.

By Skika Reporter.

National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, is among political party leaders expected to receive official vehicles under a new Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD) initiative aimed at supporting political party activities across the country.

Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) Secretary General Fred Ebil confirmed that the Council of Secretaries General under IPOD approved the resolution to provide vehicles to presidents of member political parties, saying the move was intended to facilitate their nationwide mobilization efforts.

According to Ebil, the resolution was passed during the previous IPOD term but its implementation was delayed due to budget constraints.

Instead, the available funds were used to purchase minibuses for political parties that had already been admitted into the platform.

He said NUP did not receive a minibus at the time because it had not yet been formally admitted to IPOD, but the party is now expected to benefit after its anticipated admission next month.

Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) leader Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu is also among those expected to receive a vehicle.

“The resolution of buying cars for our leaders in IPOD was passed in the last term, but because the budget was not enough, we decided to buy minibuses for political parties that had already been admitted.

NUP did not receive its bus because it had not yet been officially admitted, but talks are underway to ensure the party gets one to support grassroots mobilization,” Ebil said.

Sources familiar with the arrangement said each vehicle is expected to cost about Shs800 million.

Ebil defended the expenditure, arguing that leaders of political parties represented in Parliament require durable vehicles capable of accessing remote parts of the country.

The sources added that funding for the purchases is expected to be released in the next quarter of the current financial year.

A second phase is also expected to provide vehicles to Secretaries General of IPOD member parties, with each reportedly costing about Shs500 million.

Ebil also confirmed that NUP acting president Lina Zedriga has been cleared to lead the party’s delegation during the signing of documents formalizing NUP’s admission into IPOD on behalf of Bobi Wine, who is currently outside the country and is expected to participate virtually.