Mao vows to resign if DP loses Bukoto seat

By Dismus Buregyeya and Ali Mambule

The Democratic Party (DP) president, Nobert Mao has said he will resign from the party leadership if the party flag bearer in Bukoto south constituency Parliamentary by-election, Mathias Nsubuga loses the race to Alintuma Nsambu of NRM party.

Mao made the remarks at a campaign rally for Nsubuga at Kiwangala trading centre in Kissekka sub-county, Lwengo district.

The rally was attended by the Kampala mayor Elias Lukwago, Masaka municipality MP Mathias Mpuga, Kalungu west MP Gonzanga Ssewungu, Mityana north MP Ssozzi Kaddu Mukasa, Bukomansimbi district Woman MP Susan Nakawuki and the East African Legislative Assembly MP Mukasa Mbidde.

A cross section of NRM party leaders that included the Nsangi sub-county NRM chairman Hajji Abdu Kiyimba and the Lwengo district councilor Abdu Kabuga.

The seat fell vacant after court nullified the election of Hajji Muyanja Mbabali (NRM) in the 2011 election because of his fake academic papers.

"I will resign if Nsubuga loses this election. We cannot lose this race to a candidate like Alintuma Nsambu," Mao said.

He said it will be shameful for Nsubuga who is the DP secretary general to be defeated in his home area.

Mao also disclosed that their negotiations with the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party to front Nsubuga as sole opposition candidate failed.

"We had embarked on talks with FDC in Najanankumbi until when we resolved to go to the Bukoto south battle ground on our own," he said.

FDC has fronted Julius Ssentamu as its flag bearer and dispatched youth from its Masaka regional office to campaign for him.

Ssentamu told the New Vision that his party has assigned Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu to go to Bukoto south to campaign for him.

Lukwago advised the people of Bukoto south not to allow Nsambu who he called a reject from Bukoto East Constituency in Masaka district, to use them to achieve his selfish interests.

He said Nsambu is an indisciplined politician who does not deserve any vote especially in Buganda kingdom where he belittled the Kabaka and the kingdom.

"Lets teach Nsambu a lesson that he will never forget. If you see Nsambu chase him away, do not receive rejects here," Lukwago said.

 Nsambu lost the Bukoto east Parliamentary seat to Florence Namayanja (DP) in the 2011 elections before he relocated to Bukoto south where he secured a house in Nkoni.

Nsubuga apologized for the things he failed to achieve when he was MP for Bukoto south between 2001 and 2006.

"I have contributed to many development projects in this constituency, the list is endless but there are those that I have not done, sincerely I must apologise and hope you forgive me," he said.

 Nsubuga urged all parties including NRM supporters to back him to discipline Nsambu.