Uganda’s oldest political party , the Democratic Party (DP) will not field a presidential candidate and instead chose to rally behind the incumbent and ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer Yoweri Museveni 81, who has been in power since 1986.
During a meeting of DP National Executive Committee (NEC) on Friday , the party top leadership said it will instead to prioritise parliamentary and local government contests in what leaders describe as a pragmatic and sustainable shift in strategy.
The party resolved to concentrate its resources on winnable key positions, citing the high cost and limited returns of repeated presidential bids.
The motion was tabled by Vice President Fred Mukasa Mbidde and seconded by senior party figures including Fred Oyonga, Vive President Western Region Imam Makumbi, and Bukedi Region representative Peter Ndinywa.
The resolution emphasizes five key areas: resource optimisation, strengthening grassroots structures, consolidating the NRM/DP Cooperation Agreement, promoting peaceful elections, and creating more opportunities for women and youth in politics.
“This is not a retreat ,but a strategic repositioning to maximize our impact and ensure meaningful electoral gains,” said Mbidde, underscoring that DP’s limited finances would be better deployed to expand its legislative presence.
Key Grounds for the Shift
According to the motion, the party’s decision was based on:
• Resource Optimization: Avoiding the heavy financial and logistical demands of a presidential bid to focus on winnable local and parliamentary contests.
• Consolidating Gains from the NRM/DP Cooperation Agreement: Using the cooperation as a platform for reforms, national dialogue, and reconciliation instead of confrontation.
• Promotion of Peaceful and Honest Elections: Leading civic education and monitoring to ensure free and fair elections.
• Historical Lessons and Electoral Realism: Recognising systemic challenges that have historically hindered opposition presidential bids.
• Strengthening Party Unity: Avoiding divisions that a presidential candidacy could inflame, instead rallying around a collective grassroots strategy.
• Grassroots Sustainability: Building influence at community level to address immediate issues like infrastructure, health, and education.
• National Interest and Maturity: Acting as a stabilising force by promoting reforms that benefit all Ugandans.
• Policy Impact on Pressing Issues: Focusing on youth unemployment, inflation, and climate change through legislative strength.
• Risk Mitigation: Preventing fragmentation of the opposition vote by avoiding a competing presidential bid.
• Inclusivity: Creating more opportunities for women, youth, and marginalised groups to contest positions.
Under the new framework, DP President-General Norbert Mao, who also serves as Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister, will take charge as the party’s chief campaigner.
Mao is expected to traverse the country mobilizing support and resources for DP aspirants at Parliamentary and local government levels. According to party insiders, Mao is also likely to contest for a parliamentary seat in Gulu –a decision he is yet to make .
Party leaders argued that the shift draws on historical lessons, noting that DP has performed better in legislative and local contests compared to its repeated failures in presidential races.
Supporters of the motion praised it as a mature recalibration that could give the party greater influence in shaping Uganda’s governance.
However, some members voiced unease at the decision to forgo the presidency altogether, warning it could weaken DP’s national visibility.
The development is likely to reshape the political landscape ahead of the polls, with DP positioning itself as a key legislative and grassroots player.
Leaders said the move aims to rebuild voter trust, strengthen inclusivity, and lay a firmer foundation for future national contests.