DP’s internal wrangles play out at delegates' conference in Mbarara
The voting exercise, which had initially kicked off on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at Asamar Country Resort in Mbarara city, was halted due to chaos involving supporters of Bukoto Central MP Richard Sebamala.
Justice and Constitution Affairs Minister Norbert Mao after casting his vote at ASAMAR hotel in Mbarara city on Sunday evening. Mao is contesting for President General DP. (Photos Fred Turyakira)
By Fred Turyakira
Journalists @New Vision
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Delegates of the Democratic Party (DP) on Sunday finally began electing their party leaders following delays caused by the registration and verification of delegates.
The voting exercise, which had initially kicked off on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at Asamar Country Resort in Mbarara city, was halted due to chaos involving supporters of Bukoto Central MP Richard Sebamala.
The group accused DP chairperson Mayambala Kiwanuka of blocking their candidate from contesting for the position of party president general.
The process resumed at 10:00am on Sunday with the identification of eligible voters under a heavy security deployment. Voting officially commenced at 6:30 pm.
Incumbent party president general Norbert Mao faces stiff competition from Dr Michael Bayiga Lulume, MP for Buikwe Constituency; Richard Sebamala, Bukoto Central MP; and Elia Alitia, the party’s vice president for West Nile, as he seeks to retain his position.
Sebamala excluded
However, Sebamala, who was pushing to have his name included on the presidential ballot, was left stunned when the party’s electoral presiding officer ruled him ineligible to contest, citing that he had not served on the national committee for five years.
Sebamala, who was effectively blocked from standing, vowed to run regardless, asserting his constitutional right to contest.
“We have always exposed the illegalities in the Democratic Party. But many people had not taken the concern. A candidate cannot remove a fellow candidate on the ballot paper. Also, it is very clear that the process that was followed was not even anywhere in the party’s constitution.
Security officials overseeing the DP voting exercise at ASAMAR Hotel in Mbarara City on Sunday evening.
In the event that I had anomalies in my papers, they would have called me and I would have appeared in person to defend myself, but I was not called,” he explained.
“If we follow the party constitution, after they have dissolved the NEC, under Article 35, we elect the presiding officer, not appoint them. Names of those that are going to contest for every particular position will be proposed and seconded and go ahead to present their papers,” he added.
Sebamala contended that, having served a full five-year term which ended only recently, he met the requirement to contest for the presidency.
“If you say that I have not been on the national council for five years, we convened a national council and we swore in for five years. Under our constitution, a national council is supposed to last for five years, and yesterday (Saturday), the term of our office ended. At that point, I qualify for the election.
Gerald Siranda casts his vote at ASAMAR Hotel in Mbarara City on Sunday evening.
“They tried to bring the elections forward by two months in order to eliminate me, but it’s too late for them, because our term of office has ended. Mao and his executive don’t have any legal basis to block me.”
Sebamala stated that he has been a member of the party since 2014, was issued a party card, and contested—and won—the Bukoto Central MP seat on a DP ticket.
He further claimed that attempts were made to disqualify him under the assumption he was still a civil servant, though he had already resigned.
He accused party leaders of being afraid of his candidacy, but vowed to fight for truth and justice to restore DP’s glory.
DP electoral commission chairperson Kennedy Mutenyo commented on the controversy, saying, “We are prepared for the elections. We want to screen all the delegates and start the exercise. Those who want to disrupt should know that this is not a market where you go and do whatever you want.”
In another dramatic development, Richard Lumu, who had planned to contest for the secretary general position against incumbent Gerald Blacks Sibanda and Ismail Kirya, shocked supporters by withdrawing from the race. He cited injustice in the conduct of the election process.
By press time, voting was still ongoing.