DP well placed to take state power, says Mao

Uganda’s oldest political party, the Democratic Party (DP) has in the recent past had internal squabbles which are believed to be party of the plans for overthrowing the party President Norbert Mao. Moses Mulondo sought him for an interview be on his leadership and the future of DP.

Q: What are the future prospects of DP taking state power?

A: The party has correct foundations. Its programs would enable Uganda to rise to greatness but the party seems to be facing an identity crisis which it has to resolve. That stated, there is no other party that can break the circle of violence in Uganda apart from the Democratic Party (DP). DP is therefore well positioned to take power.

Q: What identity crisis is DP facing?

A: We have the UYD who say they are socialists; they think a party can just declare an idea for purposes of fundraising abroad. I do not believe that there is a problem with our identity.

Q: Which is the true DP identity?

A: It is that of a mass political party which is committed to truth and justice. We believe there is room for the state in the economy as opposed to the current absolute free market economy.

Q: Some DP leaders like the deputy secretary general Vincent Mayanja want you to step down from the leadership of the party for a more vibrant leadership to come in. Why don’t you?

A: That is his opinion and he is absolutely entitled to it. Leaders come and go but the party stays. If Mao’s exit can make DP stronger then that will be the right thing to be done but if his exit will only open the gates and handover the party to wolves in the sheep skin then Mao has a duty to fight off such wolves.

I think the Delegates of DP will determine the best leader now. Even in Mbale I never got 100%. I have the humility to accept that there are many in DP who don’t want my leadership. It is only a pity that some undermine my leadership.

Q: Do you intend to stand for presidency again after getting a dismal percentage of 1.8% in the previous presidential race?

A: You stand for presidency to offer citizens a choice and Ugandans need to get a real choice. Therefore, I am still committed to the struggle for democracy and to offer myself to lead this country. It is not true that my percentage was dismal. Out of the seven districts Museveni did not win I won three of them. 

So, each of the votes I got is much worth more than its weight in gold. I did not deceive voters, I did not bribe and I did not threaten anyone. I got genuine votes.

Q: It is widely believed that you have failed to reconcile the various DP camps to make the party stronger. What do you have to say?

A: Most of the so called irreconcilable differences are due to indiscipline and there are people who want to force their will on the party without following the party constitution. We have largely reconciled but reconciliation is also influenced by the political environment.

Right now a key factor in Uganda’s politics is the politics of regime change. We have many members who think parties are irrelevant.

So, we have got to engage such people and tell them that Ugandans have room for both political parties and activists. But political parties have to be the core of the agenda to transform Uganda.   

Q: Why did you refuse to be part of the opposition For God and My Country (4GC) activities led by Dr. Kizza Besigye?

A: To be honest, I participated in the protests of walk to work and we encouraged our members to be part of any efforts to bring about change. We now need a platform which is agenda driven not individual driven.

Our Secretary General attended one of the 4GC rallies and he was forced to acknowledge that kizza Besigye is the President of Uganda. The 4GC are very disrespectful of institutions and they are spreading a very harmful view that political parties are useless.

Therefore, we believe the best way is for political parties to engage at an institutional level. 

Q: In 2010 when you were campaigning for the presidency of DP you promised to de-bugandanize DP and make it represented across the country but many wonder why up to now there is no single DP MP who comes from outside Buganda.

A: The party does not have any single MP from outside Buganda because we were not able to attract high caliber candidates. Many people from outside Buganda are reluctant to join DP but at other levels we have managed to restore the party base in other parts of the country.

We have elected officials in local governments in Kitgum, Gulu, Nwoya and Bundibujo. Buganda still remains dominant in the DP affairs for historical reasons. So, I have succeeded in restoring the sense of national ownership to DP.

Q: On Tuesday you said there are many thieves within the opposition parties. Can you expound on that?

A: I said the opposition is not full of saints and the fact that you opposed to the NRM does not make you a better alternative. We have a fair share of crooks. We face challenges of financial accountability by political parties. We also suffer from mediocrity in the opposition.

So, it is a combination of low integrity and mediocrity.

Q: Why is the relationship between you and the DP MPs poor?

A: That is not true. Actually, I have a good relationship with majority of them. Right now the only MP attacking me is Brenda Nabukenya. She has contempt for key DP leaders including me. She is extremely arrogant but that says more about her not me.

The attitude of MPs towards me does not say anything about me but it says a lot about them. A party is not just a meal ticket to go to parliament and earn a big salary. A party is a set of beliefs and values. Many MPs forget where they are from. But personally, I want to stay engaged with the DP MPs.

Q: Why have you up to now failed to hold a Delegates’ Conference yet the DP party constitution says that should happen annually?

A: We had plans to have Delegates Conferences in 2011 and 2012 but as you know the Deepening Democracy program wound up. We have been unable to hold one because of lack of money.

Our delegates can sacrifice but we still have to make a contribution as a party. We hope we can hold a Delegates Conference this year. It is necessary that we have one this year.

Q: What will be the agenda of that Delegates Conference?

A: The DP Delegates Conference is the policy making organ for the party. It will discuss the future of the party and elect leaders for the party. At the next Delegates Conference, there will be elections for party positions including that of the president.

Q: Why do you think the opposition has since the 1996 elections repeatedly failed to defeat President Yoweri Museveni?

A: Before the opposition can win, Ugandans need to be sure that the opposition can be an improvement on the NRM government. The opposition has been notoriously inarticulate about its agenda. But there are also other factors which have prevented change. We don’t have genuine multiparty democracy in Uganda. 

Parties are not free to organize and sell their agenda due to police brutality. The lection process is tainted with rigging. The Electoral Commission is just an appendage of the NRM.

But we should make no excuses as the opposition. Others have overcome against greater odds. We have to organize better. Change will not come on silver platter