The Democratic Party (DP) has advised other political parties in Uganda to adopt a collaborative approach so that the country’s future is effectively secured and planned for. 

The remarks were made by the party’s vice chairperson, Fred Mukasa Mbidde, during the launch of the national organising committee in preparation for the homecoming ceremony of the party’s national chairperson, Nobert Mao. 

The event slated to take place on July 22, at Kaunda Grounds in Gulu city, will be held under the theme It Is Time.  

Speaking at the party headquarters at City Hall, Mbidde highlighted that DP has decided to embark on cooperation with the ruling party to realise prosperity for the future of Uganda. 

“We are no longer looking at who we don’t want but rather what we want. DP has always been a party that uses brain power rather than force to address political challenges,” he said. 

However, Mbidde emphasised that the agreement between DP and the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) is not one of complete cooperation but rather an understanding of particular areas of interest. 

“As DP, we are looking at particular areas among others including fine-tuning the laws of the country,” he said. 

Mbidde revealed that one of the key reasons for holding the event in Gulu is to clearly spell out the facts behind the party’s agreement with NRM. 

“We want Ugandans to know what we are doing, how and for how long we shall be under this agreement with NRM,” he said. 

Mbidde noted that even in the past, DP has collaborated with ruling governments to make a positive political mark in the country. 

“Benedicto Kiwanuka and Kizito Ssebaana worked with the governments by then and it proved to work in the past. We believe it can work again,” he said. 

Mbidde indicated that the national organising committee has a major role in the coordination and mobilisation of the homecoming of their party chairperson. 

“We have established a structural system to lead in a countrywide mobilisation of people as DP so that many turn up in large numbers in Gulu,” he said. 

According to Mbidde, the national organising committee will be overseen by a Central Executive Committee (CEC), which is co-chaired by him and Richard Todwong, the NRM Secretary General.   

The national organising committee will be led by Mbidde and chaired by Ismael Kirya, the president of the Uganda Young Democrats, the youth wing of DP. 

In July 2022, President Yoweri Museveni and Mao signed a 42-clause working cooperation agreement which included supporting in the overall governance agenda and supporting parliamentary votes on matters of confidence and supply for the full term of the 11^th Parliament.