By Ahmed Kateregga

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has described the new Democratic Party (DP) president, Nobert Mao, as a joker who should not be entrusted with the mantle of leading the country.

This was Museveni’s first comment since Mao was elected DP party president in Mbale almost a month ago.

Museveni said while the Government forces had been fighting the LRA under Joseph Kony, Mao used to visit the rebel leader’s hideouts and glorify him.

The President was on Wednesday receiving DP branch leaders in Buvuma Islands, Patrice Kirumbalumba and Pius Sendi, who crossed to the NRM party at a public rally held at the county headquarters at Nayirambi.

Museveni was on a countrywide tour of projects under the Prosperity for All programme.

The President recalled that he joined DP as a youth winger in 1960 and defected to the UPC where he spent only five months.

He stated that the two parties have no solution to the country's problems, adding that it was due to its weaknesses that UPC was overthrown.

The President toured model farmer Simeo Mwito at Buwanga in Nayirambi sub-county.

Mwito owns a banana plantation and cattle. Museveni also visited Deogratius Muyimbwa of Bubeere village in Lunnyanja parish, Busamizi sub-county who rears pigs and grows upland rice and maize.

Museveni promised to extend electricity from Mayuge district to Buvuma. He also said he would direct the education ministry to build a boarding secondary school for the islanders.