‘Errant DP members return home’

‘Errant DP members return home’

KAMPALA. Democratic Party errant members, who fell out with president Norbert Mao  have accepted to return to the main fold to rejuvenate the party ahead of the 2016 general elections .

The members, mostly youth under the party’s wing –the Uganda Young Democrats said they had buried their hatchets and promised to participate in all party activities .

“ These differences have greatly affected our party to the extent that many members no longer greet each other . Let us start a new chapter and leave our differences behind for the good of the party,” said Sulaiman Kidandala ,the deputy city lord mayor.

Kidandala ,who also doubles as DP national organizing secretary has together with other DP members including MPs not stepped at the party headquarters for the last three years because of failure to agree with Mr Mao’s leadership style . Last year, Kidandala was part of the UYD members who went against Mr Mao’s directive and elected new UYD leaders, something the party top leadership interpreted as insubordination.

Buikwe South MP Dr Lulume Bayiga said: “ There is time to throw stones and time for reconciliation . We commend party leaders for extending this olive branch to us ,”

The party members made the announcement at the weekend during an end of year party organised by DP leadership in Rubaga Division .

At the same function , members also tasked their leaders to start laying groundwork for the 2016 general elections which includes;reorganising party structures and amending the 1954 DP constitution. An insider intimated to Daily monitor that the decision by the group to return to the main  fold is simply a political strategy to gain ground to fight Mao whom they believe has failed to steer the party. Mao ,who stood for presidency in 2011 ,garnered 1.9 percent against Museveni’s 69 percent .  

Last year ,warring DP factions –one led by Mr Mao and another by party spokesperson Kenneth Kakande and urged them to bury their hatchets and work for the good of the party .

The elders, who met the group at Pope Paul Hotel in Ndeeba ,a city suburb were reportedly concerned that the expulsion threats earlier issued by Mr Mao against some party members could prompt  them to defect to other parties like it has been in the past.

Mr Mao has severally maintained that DP is   a strong party  which follows the rule of law and cannot be held at ransom by “a handful of individuals” who he said were pushing for selfish interests. A source told this reporter that Mao has of late fell out with a section of his executive ,with him and DP legal advisor Mukasa Mbidde on one side and another camp led by Mathias Nsubuga , the party secretary general on the other. Nsubuga’s camp reportedly wants to front Bayiga for DP president in the next delegates conference against Mao .

 DP legal advisor, Denis Mukasa Mbidde,who represented Mr Mao at the function welcomed the group ,saying everyone is needed to create a formidable political force to unseat the NRM .

“Our members must know that internal bickering benefits nobody and it defeats the spirit of unity .We all need each other and  if we are to fight Museveni’s dictatorship ,we must be united ,”he said

DP, the county’s oldest party has lived a fighting life, battling with both internal and external challenges. Critics say if the current disagreement is not properly resolved could lead to further divisions in   the party. DP has suffered high level defections than any other party in the country over the years and some of the politicians currently in the ruling NRM were once DP members.