Mao emerges victorious, accused of 'waiting for elections to deliver speeches'

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Veteran politician Nobert Mao has been elected Democratic Party (DP) president general in a victory painted by violent scenes.

This is Mao's fourth term having assumed office in 2010.

Mao scooped 969 votes, while his closet challenger, Dr Bayigga Lulume, garnered 339 votes. Another candidate Alitia Elia got 52 votes.

For the Secretary General seat, Gerald Siranda has been re-elected with 870 votes, while Ismail Kiirya got 312 votes.

Mukasa Mbidde has been declared, the vice-president general after going through unopposed.

Chaos

Earlier, chaos erupted at the DP National Delegates’ Conference in Mbarara City’s election tally centre over accusations of voter and candidate disenfranchisement.

This resulted in the injury of Mukono South Member of Parliament (MP) Fred Kayondo. Controversy started when DP president general hopeful Bukoto Central MP Richard Sebamala’s name was absent from the list of candidates.

This prompted Sebamala’s disgruntled supporters, including Kayondo, to erupt in violence and refuse to vacate the tally centre stage. Meanwhile, journalists were also barred from accessing the tally centre.

Subsequently, Mbarara City South Division Resident City Commissioner Robert Kanusu instructed security operatives to restore order in order to maintain peace and avoid confrontations during the elections.

In the ensuing scuffle, Kayondo was manhandled by security personnel and sustained injuries. He was later carried by fellow delegates into a vehicle and rushed to a nearby health facility in Mbarara for treatment.

Is this the DP we want?

An angry Sebamala accused the current DP president general Norbert Mao and his allies of manipulating the electoral process for personal gain, warning that “traitors” would be expelled from the party.

“Mao has been around for over 15 years, yet there is no real unity in DP. Is this the DP we want? While we suffer with the people and create opportunities, he waits for elections to deliver speeches,” Sebamala said.

Sebamala was among the three candidates who showed interest in contesting for the DP presidency against Norbert Mao, who has been the party’s president general for the last 15 years.

Other aspirants are Buikwe South MP Dr Micheal Lulume Bayiga, and Dr Alitia Elia, the Party’s vice president for West Nile.

Richard Lumu also withdrew from DP’s general secretary election seat, citing irregularities in preparations.

“Because of the impunity and bad system, I have observed here to the extent of even breaching the DP’s constitution, I have decided to withdraw my candidature,” Lumu stated.

The DP members convened in Mbarara city last Friday, May 30, 2025, for a two-day 12th national delegates’ conference during which they are supposed to elect their top leadership.

The delegates were supposed to elect their new leaders on Saturday after the national executive committee (NEC) leadership was dissolved by party chairperson Mayambala Kiwanuka a few minutes after midnight, but failed to agree.

Shortly, the meeting turned chaotic before prompting the Party’s electoral commission management committee chairperson, Kennedy Mutenyo, to cancel the proceedings and call in Police.

The exercise was allegedly disrupted by supporters of Bukoto Central Member of Parliament Richard Sebamala, prompting Mutenyo to postpone the elections to Sunday, June 1, 2025.

“The process had started smoothly on Saturday before tempers flared, making it impossible for us to proceed. Sebamala caused chaos because his name was missing on the nomination list. But with assistance from Ester Namara, the District Police Commander for Mbarara City South Division, order was restored,” Mutenyo confirmed.

Sebamala’s supporters accused the party chairman (Kiwanuka) of removing their candidate from the nomination list.