DP to hold massive celebrations countrywide- Mao

By Andrew Ssenyonga

The Democratic Party (DP) has announced that as they mark 60 years of their existence they will hold celebrations in all the districts around the country.

Party president Norbert Mao said that they are taking their celebrations countrywide as a move to recruit more members as well as celebrating with the current members.

“We have very many members outside Kampala; marking our celebrations in the city will not show that the party is at 60. So we have to show our strength of party by holding massive celebrations countrywide,” Mao said.

Mao announced this during the party’s weekly press briefing at their headquarters on Tuesday.

He added that the party will hold several events throughout the year beginning from March in different places, districts and constituencies as a way of celebrating party achievements and reflecting on its failures.

Mao said that there is a lot for DP to celebrate starting with the ability to exist for 60 years and the several contributions that it has made towards building the nation.

“The party has fostered the existence of peace in the country which was evidenced when I engaged Kony, the LRA leader hence resulting into the peace that the people in the North are now enjoying after many years of terrorism from the rebels,” Mao noted.

He further said the party is responsible for chapter 4 of the constitution which was a contribution of the DP delegation which spells out the protection of human rights.

He added that it should be noted that the best performing district in 2013 is Wakiso which is led by a DP member, Matiya Lwanga Bwanika which is an expression of truth and justice which are part of party’s principals.

“We will celebrate our struggles including our unsuccessful contributions throughout the whole country as a way of reviving the glory of the oldest party in the country,” he noted.

The Democratic Party (DP) was founded by the late Benedicto Kiwanuka formed out of the religious and economic demographics before Uganda's independence.

Benedicto Kiwanuka was replaced by Paul Kawanga Ssemwogerere who led the party for 25 years until his retirement in November 2005.

He was also replaced by John Ssebaana Kizito who led the party until 2010. The party is currently under the presidency of Norbert Mao.