By Tensions within the Democratic Party (DP) escalated on Tuesday as supporters of party president Norbert Mao and rival factions of Eng. Richard Sebamala clashed at the party’s headquarters in Kampala. The unrest occurred ahead of a scheduled press conference by Mao, highlighting deep divisions within Uganda’s oldest political party.
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The confrontation comes just days before the DP’s delegates’ conference, set for this Friday. Supporters of Masaka Municipality MP Richard Ssebamala, who is challenging Mao for the party’s top position, accused the current leadership of attempting to exclude rival factions from the upcoming elections.
Central to the discord are allegations that some delegates have been “ferried” to meet General Salim Saleh, President Museveni’s brother and a senior military advisor, in an effort to manipulate the party’s internal processes. Critics argue that such meetings undermine the party’s democratic principles.
“This is no longer a democratic process,” one supporter shouted during the fracas, demanding transparency in the list of delegates cleared to vote on Friday. The situation escalated into physical altercations before police intervened to restore order.
The Democratic Party has been grappling with internal disputes, particularly following Mao’s cooperation agreement with President Museveni in 2022. The agreement, which led to Mao’s appointment as Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, has been a point of contention among party members.
Mao has defended the agreement, stating that it remains under the control of the National Council and can be reviewed or terminated if it does not serve the party’s interests. “DP is not for sale, and I cannot sell it,” Mao asserted during a National Council meeting in Soroti.
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However, the party’s internal divisions have been further exacerbated by Mao’s recent meetings with General Saleh. While Mao has praised Saleh’s contributions to peacebuilding and economic empowerment in the Acholi Sub-region, critics within the party view these engagements as aligning too closely with the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
As the delegates’ conference approaches, the DP faces a critical juncture. The outcome of the leadership contest between Mao and Ssebamala could determine the party’s future direction and its role in Uganda’s political landscape.
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