🔊 All set for DP delegates conference in Mbarara
Delegates from across the country have, today, May 30, 2025, already started arriving for the conference, which aims to elect new Democratic Party leaders.
L-R; DP Press Secretary to the President General, Fred Mwesigwa with DP President General and Justice Minister Norbert Mao and Okoler Opio Lo Amanu, the DP spokesperson on Wednesday. (Photo by Isaac Nuwagaba)
By New Vision Journalist
Journalists @New Vision
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All is set for the 12th Democratic Party National Delegates Conference at Asamar Country Resort in Mbarara city.
Delegates from across the country have, today, May 30, 2025, already started arriving for the conference, which aims to elect new Democratic Party leaders.
Among the candidates vying for the position of DP president general are incumbent Nobert Mao, who is also justice minister who has held the seat for 15 years; Buikwe South Member of Parliament Lulume Bayigga and party vice-president general (northern Uganda) Alia Alitia.
Speaking to the media this morning, DP Youth Leader for Kampala Julius Dumba said the nomination process ahead of the delegates conference is fraudulent and goes against the party constitution.
Bukoto Central MP Richard Sebamala.(Photo by Ronnie Kijjambu)
He said he is present to formally express his interest in the presidency and will contest before the full assembly of DP delegates in a bid to secure the mandate to lead the party.
A total of 54 candidates are competing for the party’s 23 positions, although 31 are unopposed.
Lulume’s candidacy was confirmed by the party’s vetting committee, which also disqualified Bukoto Central MP Richard Sebamala on grounds that he does not meet the constitutional requirement of 10 years of top leadership within the party.
Sebamala is a vocal critic of the 2022 DP-NRM co-operation agreement between Mao and President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
The party’s electoral management committee chairperson, Kennedy Mutenyo, released the final list of vetted candidates on Wednesday evening.
It includes only Lulume, Elia Alitia and Mao.
Buikwe South Member of Parliament Lulume Bayigga is among the candidates vying for the position of DP president general. (Photo by Miriam Namutebi)
“DP’s constitution stipulates that for one to contest for the position of president general, they must have 10 years of top leadership experience and be an active member, which Sebamala lacks,” Mao said during an impromptu press conference on Wednesday.
“In 1980, President Yoweri Museveni wanted to be elected party secretary general but lacked that experience and was pushed out. Sebamala started serving as a national council member on September 19, 2020."
The stiff competition is now between Lulume, Mao and Alitia, who meet the required qualifications as per the DP constitution,” the DP president general added.
Mao accuses NRM leaders
In a surprising twist, Mao claimed that some senior National Resistance Movement (NRM) figures were financing his rivals within DP to undermine him due to his role in the co-operation deal with Museveni.
“Powerful NRM people are insecure because Mao is in the co-operation mix. Some of them have been funding my rivals to create confusion and disunity in the party, but I have to continue doing my work until the delegates conference is finished,” Mao said.
He also warned of stern action against those intending to cause chaos at the upcoming delegates' conference in Mbarara.
“As long as the party is still led by a difficult and powerful man like Mao, they won’t manage,” he said.
“Nobody will disorganise the conference. Anybody who tries comedy in Mbarara will regret it. As DP leaders, we have to save Uganda from extremist leaders before disaster strikes,” he added.
The DP delegates conference is expected to draw 1,600 delegates.
Legal action
Sebamala has vowed to take legal action against the party for allegedly excluding him from the race and manipulating the delegates list.
“Some delegates were eliminated simply because we questioned the unfair nomination fees that were levied on the contestants. The fees include sh10m for the president general, sh5m for the vice-president, and sh5m for the secretary general,” he said