The Democratic Party (DP) has suspended the activities of its Jinja city executive committee ahead of the massive national registration and membership renewal exercise.

During a meeting in which the committee was suspended, party members immediately voted in a new registrar Joseph Batengaya unopposed to oversee all party activities until the executive’s five-year term of service expires in 2025.

The meeting was held on April 26, 2024, at the Jinja People With Disabilities (PWDs) community centre in Jinja city.

“The new registrar will take over activities of the chairperson and also steer the party activities until a new executive committee is elected next year as we gear up for the national general elections in 2026,” Ismail Kirya, the DP spokesperson, said.

Kirya who is also the national chairperson of the Uganda Young Democrats (UYD), said this comes after most party members defected and joined other political parties.

Among recent defections include Jinja city executive chairperson Epaphras Kabugudho who joined the National Unity Platform (NUP) and Ramathan Bazanya, the eastern region DP chairperson who joined the National Résistance Movement (NRM) and was appointed assistant Resident City Commissioner (RCC) of Jinja South Division in Jinja city.

During the meeting which initially turned rowdy after some members traded accusations of indiscipline and openly supporting other parties, they were guided by the national general secretary Gerald Siranda who guided them on getting a registrar.

Kirya noted that with the one-month massive registration exercise which kicked off immediately, it was one of the resolutions during a national executive meeting that was held in Mbale city recently. 

He explained that each member has to register with sh2000 for the membership card.

“After the registration, we shall institute village committees and other levels using only names on the national register we are updating now. Those members will also be eligible to vote for the top most leaders of the party in 2025,” he noted.

He urged that it’s now the time for members to discipline their non-performing leaders and also amend relations to strengthen the party.

Joseph Batengaya, the registrar, called for the mobilisation of DP members and noted that registration will be held at various wards in the two divisions of Jinja city.

Batengaya noted that they should put in place committees from village/cell levels that will be the foundation of the revival of the strong leadership of the party.

Ivan Tibekana, the former party flag bearer for the Jinja city mayoral race, asked for the registration exercise to be handled in a more transparent manner to gain trust from supporters to embrace the exercise.

However, they asked party president general Nobert Mao to meet members ahead of the NEC meeting in 2025 and also present a report on the party cooperation’s agreement with the ruling NRM party.