DP supporters slam Mao over attending NRM caucus

KAMPALA - Supporters of the Democratic Party (DP) have issued a strong condemnation of party president general and Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Norbert Mao’s reported intention to attend the National Resistance Movement (NRM) caucus, describing it as “unacceptable” and a “direct affront to the independence of our party.”

In a statement issued by DP at Heart, led by Julius Ddumba, the supporters emphasised that Mao has no mandate from DP members or stakeholders to engage with the NRM or participate in its internal structures.

“If Mao is attending the NRM caucus, he is not attending on behalf of the Democratic Party but on his own behalf,” the statement issued at Tavern Woods Gardens, Kabuusu in Kampala on Tuesday, March 7, 2026 reads.

The DP supporters assert that the party’s independence is “non-negotiable” and warn against attempts to integrate it into the NRM machinery.

“We have noted reports that Mao has sought to engage the NRM leadership with the intention of attending its caucus. The NRM caucus is an internal partisan organ of the ruling party, not a national platform for opposition participation,” Ddumba observed.

Any attempt by the DP leader to seek entry into this forum is irregular, unacceptable, and a direct affront to the independence of our party, he threatened.

They called on all DP members to remain vigilant and united in defending the party’s founding values. The statement comes amid concerns about political alignments and the role of opposition parties in Uganda’s political landscape.

Former DP – Uganda Young Democrats (UYD) president Ismail Kiirya stressed that any engagement between parties must occur through formal channels, not personal arrangements that undermine public trust.

“The DP is not available for absorption, alignment, or informal integration into the NRM machinery. Any attempt to draw it into the internal processes of the NRM will be firmly resisted,” he noted.

Earlier today, Tuesday, before Mao left for Kyankwanzi, he outlined the importance of the NRM retreat, saying that it was not about the speakership position but about realigning incoming 12th Parliament members on conducting business on behalf of their electorates.

“I do not know whether Ugandans understand the purpose of this retreat. The members of the incoming 12th Parliament are going to get the real sense of their responsibilities. It is not about the speakership much as the members are the electoral college,” Mao said.

Mao, who is expected to present a paper as one of the speakers, seeks a mandate to become Speaker of Parliament and replace Annet Anita Among, who has been at the helm of the House since March 25, 2022.

DP and NRM signed a cooperation agreement on July 20, 2022, but it has remained a subject of contention among DP senior leaders and ordinary members, with some viewing it as a strategic move to advance the party’s interests, while others see it as a betrayal of the party’s values.

With the agreement reaching its expiry period in 2026, it remains to be seen how it will impact Uganda’s political landscape as the new government prepares to be sworn in in May this year.