Following the visit by Kenyan President Dr William Ruto and opposition Azimio La Umoja Coalition leader Raila Odinga at President Yoweri Museveni’s Kisozi farm on Monday, the Democratic Party (DP) has asked opposition politicians in Uganda to borrow a leaf, citing the need to build and develop the country. 

DP says the visit indicated mature politics, which the party says is lacking among Ugandan politicians especially those in the opposition. 

In 2022, Ruto and Raila were seen as close and fierce political rivals who battled for Kenya’s top office. Ruto received about 50.5% of the vote to nearly 49% for Odinga in 2022’s balloting. 

But just before the declaration, four of the seven electoral commissioners told reporters they could not support the “opaque nature” of the final steps, without giving details. 

Speaking on behalf of DP on Tuesday, February 27, Fred Mwesigwa, the president general’s press secretary implored opposition politicians to love their country and always work to make it better. This, he said, can be archived through dialogue with the government, especially on matters affecting the citizenry. 

“Let’s play all kinds of politics but ensure that we put our country at heart. On issues to do with national development, we should always be ready to listen, cooperate and work with the government because they have a mandate to utilise national resources to better the country,” Mwesigwa said. 

The DP stalwart lashed out at youths who he said abused and insulted leaders especially those opposed to their political ideologies, arguing that their conduct may not attract people to support their cause. 

“There is a need to sanitise the Ugandan politics if we are to achieve any good out of it. Insults and abuses should not be a new brand for the opposition,” he said.