KAMPALA.
Outspoken leader of Uganda’s oldest political party ,Democratic Party (DP) Norbert Mao, Tuesday picked nomination forms to contest in the forthcoming internal elections where he seeks a fourth term as President .
Mr Mao , currently a minister in President Museveni’s government holding the portfolio of Justice and Constitutional Affairs has been DP President since 2010 amid contestations from a section of party stalwarts who has accuse him of running down the political party and hobnobbing with the State .
This in the run-up to 2021 General Elections forced 16 party legislators to walkway and join the National Unity Platform(NUP) which had just started then . Those who left DP include; among others; former Leader of Opposition and Nyendo-Mukungwe legislator Mathias Mpuuga, Mukono Municipality legislator Betty Nambooze , Merdard Lubega Ssegoona (Busiro East) , Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi( Butambala County) , &Mr Joseph Ssewungu (Kalungu West) .More politicians have continued to exit the party citing lack of clear direction by the top leadership .
The latest group to leave DP include; Kyotera District Woman legislator Rose Fortunate Nantongo and her Kyotera County counterpart John Mpalanyi and Masaka District Woman MP Joan Namutawe.
Mao added more salt in the wound when he signed the infamous cooperation agreement with the NRM in 2022, which saw him being appointed minister in a government he claims he wants to dislodge . The party Secretary General, Mr Gerald Siranda, also secured an East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) job courtesy of the MoU with Mr Museveni .
According to the roadmap issued by DP Electoral Commission ,internal elections will be held between May 30 and June 1 during the party’s delegates conference scheduled to take place in Mbarara City. This comes amid criticism from some party members, who have vowed to dislodge him, calling him a traitor.
“I am still the strong man who will drive DP out of these turbulences, that is why I am here today to pick the nomination forms,” he said during a press conference at the party headquarters in Kampala on Tuesday .
Mao announced that his longtime confidant and National DP Vice President Mr Mukasa Mbidde will be his campaign manager. : “I want to warn the people who want to destroy the DP that it will not happen… as long as I am still the DP president, we will confront those playing the politics of tribalism and I am sure we shall defeat them.”
At the same press conference, Mr Mao extended an olive branch to the disgruntled members to return to the fold ,boasting that DP has survived more devastating political storms than it is facing currently and will continue to exit .
“Unlike in 2005 and 2010 when the sitting [DP] presidents went to the National Delegates Conference with a tiny fraction of members, I am pleased to report that amidst turbulences, I have captained the ship (led DP) and will take it to the delegates in Mbarara City in the delegates’ conference and it will be upon them to decide if they entrust me for another five years or have found another person who is suitable than me,” he said.
DP has lived a fighting life for the last 70 years of its existence , battling with both internal and external challenges. Perplexingly, most disagreements usually occur at a time when members are expected to be together to fight for a common cause.
The former presidents of DP since 1957 include late Stanislaus Mugwanya , Benedicto Kiwanuka , Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere, John Ssebaana Kizito, and Norbert Mao. Paul Ssemogerere led the party for 25 years until his retirement in 2005. John Ssebaana Kizito then took over, leading the party until 2010. Norbert Mao was elected as the party president in 2010