Mao allies in DP launch bid to deny Siranda second EALA term

KAMPALA - Three Democratic Party (DP) members, including a security guard attached to the party president general’s bodyguards, have declared interest in contesting against Gerald Siranda, the party secretary general, in a fresh plot to oust him from the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) seat.

The move follows a fortnight-long campaign launched by key DP National Executive Committee (NEC) members aimed at denying Siranda a chance to continue representing the party at the regional assembly over his alleged withdrawal of support for DP president general and justice and constitutional affairs minister designate Norbert Mao during the speakership race for the 12th Parliament.

Who has declared to run against Siranda?

Among the notable members is Joseph Abiam Wakabi, the 2026 parliamentary contestant for Buzaya County MP in Kamuli district. Wakabi declared interest in challenging Siranda for the EALA seat, claiming he possesses all the required qualifications to represent DP at the regional level.

“There was a resolution ring-fencing other DP flagbearers from coming to contest against Siranda for the EALA position in the NEC meeting that sat on September 19, 2025, but this can no longer stand anymore due to what has been happening between Siranda, the DP vice president Fred Mukasa Mbidde and Mao recently,” Wakabi said.

“I am here to declare my interest to stand and represent my party at the EALA elections,” he added.

Hajjarah Namirimu Zimula

The 39-year-old Namirimu is a former DP flagbearer for the Buikwe district LC5 chairperson seat. She said she joined the race to promote gender representation within the 71-year-old party.

Hajjarah Namirimu Zimula (Credit: Isaac Nuwagaba)

“I know that I am not a NEC member, but I am shocked to see a split of top leaders, including the party secretary general and the vice president general, against Mao. Gender representation should be respected, and I am here to stand,” Namirimu said.

Zaidi Nsubuga Mpingu

Mpingu has been a DP member and security guard for Mao for the last 15 years. A resident of Kirumbi village, Kagonga parish, Kitenga subcounty in Mubende district, he previously served as a youth leader representing the party in Makindye division in Kampala for five years.

The little-known Mpingu is a Senior Six certificate holder who once worked as an escort for former Kampala Lord Mayor John Ssebaana Kizito.

A close associate of Mao, Mpingu promised to buy a vehicle for the party to support transport and daily activities.

DP security guard Zaidi Nsubuga Mpingu (Credit: Isaac Nuwagaba)

“Siranda has never supported our work. He has been there for himself alone, but I want to challenge him,” he said.

DP press secretary to the president general, Fred Mwesigwa, while speaking on May 26, 2026, at the DP party headquarters on Balintuma Road in Rubaga division, said the move is aimed at restoring discipline and the party leadership code of conduct among top officials.

“A party candidate for EALA elections must be in the right party standing, and you cannot tell me that you can’t support the sitting president and want such a high-ranking position of our party in that regard,” Mwesigwa said.

He added that Siranda has been at loggerheads with Mao over internal power struggles, accusing him of sidelining him in the implementation of the DP cooperation agreement with the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), which was signed with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in 2021 after the general elections.

“Siranda wants to go back to EALA in Arusha, and we have started the process to withdraw our party ticket from him to our loyal ranks in the party as part of the disciplinary action taken against traitors,” Mwesigwa insisted.

“That is betrayal, and it is not acceptable in any party leadership arrangement,” he added.

Siranda, the first EALA representative to secure the seat without first becoming a Member of Parliament on the DP ticket in the 11th Parliament, was backed by Mao, who reportedly negotiated vigorously with President Museveni.

Siranda responds

“As far as I know, there is no process of EALA election now because that resolution has to come through the NEC meeting of which I am a member,” he said.

“I am in my fourth year, and my term ends next year in December 2027, but I am not scared of them. As far as I know, there are only two vacancies at the regional Parliament following the election of James Kakooza and Denis Namara to the 12th Parliament of Uganda,” he added.

“DP has a process of how they arrive at flag bearers of any position, and I am not informed of such developments in the party.”