DP denies ties with NRM

By Jeff Andrew Lule  

The Democratic Party (DP) has denied allegations that it is now working with the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).

 The party spokesperson, Kenneth Paul Kakande said DP is still an opposition party with the same interests of bringing good governance to the country like other opposition parties.

Addressing journalists at the party's weekly press briefing at the party headquarters in Kampala on Tuesday, Kakande said several allegations have been leveled at some opposition parties including DP that they had allied with the NRM in the recent election of candidates to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).

 "There is an apparent 'civil war' among the opposition with sharp allegations to the effect that some parties have allied with NRM. Some have gone as far as suggesting that such opposition parties include DP. That is not true," he said.

He dismissed the allegations as baseless, stressing that there is no such alliance between DP and NRM.

 Last week the leader of opposition in Parliament, Nandala Mafabi announced the suspension of DP and UPC from the opposition cabinet after the two defied the opposition boycott move and participated in the EALA polls last week.

Mafabi vowed never to work with DP's party president, Norbert Mao on issues related to politics.

 He also described DP's legal advisor who was elected to EALA, Dennis Mukasa Mbidde as a "mole" in the opposition working for the NRM.

Kakande said there is no resolution by the DP's National Executive Committee (NEC) mandating any one in DP to work with NRM for any political reasons.

Kakande revealed that his party has already started investigations into the unfortunate and callous turn of events, adding that such individuals if any will be dealt with accordingly.

"If there are any individuals or group of persons doing it, they are doing it in their personal capacity," he said.

The party spokesman said the war of words between various opposition leaders is unnecessary especially at a time when the opposition parties need to work together towards a common goal.

 He said despite of what is transpiring within the opposition circles, DP is still committed to working with FDC and other opposition entities as allies in the fight against the "common enemy" [NRM].

 Accordingly, the DP leadership is working to reach out to the opposition leader and fellow opposition parties to scale down the unwarranted attacks and differences to move forward.

 "FDC is still our friend as well as the leader of opposition, Lord Mayor and other opposition alliances. We are all fighting NRM as the common enemy and I think all opposition parties should direct their fire towards the enemy, "Kakande said.

 He said DP's mission is still and shall always be focused on delivering Uganda to a promised land free of corruption, nepotism, militarism and greed.

 "We hope that this is what binds us with other parties and not small squabbles perpetuated by some individuals," he noted.