Join hands and cause change in 2016, Mao says

By Alex Gahima & Moses Walubiri

Democratic Party President Nobert Mao has expressed great confidence in the shared attitudes amongst the political parties under the inter-party cooperation adding that through joint efforts, previous mistakes will and can be avoided.

The remarks were Tuesday made at Democratic Party’s first press briefing this year at City House in Kampala where the jovial Nobert Mao said it is imperative that an amalgamated bond is developed amongst opposition parties with emphasis on building agenda-driven as opposed to individual interparty cooperation as was in the past.

"The cooperation so far has seen great strides, being a part of a joint shadow Government in Parliament shows collaboration. Despite the few numbers the willingness to stand together is an encouraging one," Mao said, adding that having their alliance registered by the Electoral commission - which is still a pipeline dream - will go a long way in the fight for good governance especially electoral reforms like free and fair elections while also capitalizing on the byelections in the country.

He said the National Executive Committee of DP will this month pronounce the their road map which will include fixing a date and venue for the delegate’s conference, a topic he said has raised many eyebrows.

He asked members of the media fraternity to be more knowledgeable about Democratic Party dealings and apply in-depth coverage to avoid confusion.

"Ugandans continue to live like animals in a zoo because their souls have been stifled," were the words of Nobert Mao who decried the current political state of Uganda adding that the current regime has left many Ugandans unable to express their social liberties just like an animal in a zoo that cannot fend for itself but can only wait for handouts.

The comments come at the heels of Government allocating sh6.5b to Micro Finance Support Centre for the Uganda teachers Sacco Fund.

The teachers Fund is expecting up to sh25b, a move strongly criticized by lawyer turned politician, pointing out in his own words that, "Self support groups like Saving cooperatives are meant to help people alleviate themselves. But when a group is formed and goes before Government to plead for money, does it make any sense for a self-help group to go ask for help?  Ugandans are not to blame; they are simply victims of a collapsing system of Government."

Mao noted that the political climate in the country is ripe for change following the return of renegade General David Sejusa, the in-house fighting and continuous defections from the ruling NRM party adding that opposition parties in the country have an incentive to unite and fight for a united cause.

When asked to comment on the recent resignatiopn of former Kampala mayor Ali- Hajji Nasser Ntege Sebaggala from the National Resistance Movement, Mao simply said, “As opposition, we welcome our comrade back to the struggle; however, no elusions should be harbored that the former presidential adviser on special duties will come back to Democratic Party.

He expressed great appreciation towards the media whose job he described as "risky" yet all they are trying to do is present information to the public for them to make their own opinions, citing last year’s journalists in Iraq who were beheaded by Islamic State and those that continue to be assaulted while on their jobs.