DP launches recruitment drive

By Jeff Andrew Lule      
          
The Democratic Party (DP) has launched a campaign to strengthen party structures and recruit new members ahead of 2016 national presidential elections.

The campaign code named DP Revival Crusade (D.R.C) will be carried out in all regions of the country beginning with the Central region.

The party president, Norbert Mao told journalists at the party’s weekly press briefing at the party headquarters in Kampala, that Kampala was no longer their focus since its people were already enlightened about the prevailing politics.

“Before you determine where you are going, you must determine where you have been and where you are. I pledged to transform our party and the first frontier is to change the party’s image and it is one reason we have launched this crusade,” he noted.

He said even in church when people are dosing, the priest does everything to wake them up, stressing that they are tired quarrels and bickering.

“Members decided that we leave Kampala and get back to the grassroots which we accepted. There are many Ugandans who need to be convinced in villages outside Kampala,” he added.

He said the opposition had concentrated in Kampala which does not expand their membership and support.

“Our value is timeless and we are not fighting one regime, but we want to affirm equality of opportunities and enforcing human rights among others,” Mao noted.

He said there will be roll calls for all the party MPs and other leaders at the crusades to know the real believers. He revealed that many party members do not know their members because they are stuck in Kampala like hens seated on eggs waiting to hatch.

He said they want to recruit new members, appreciate and recognize the party founder like Boniface Byanyima who has kept the party alive.

He said they also want to renovate the old house and bring down the old wall to get a new look, adding that any member who defies the party rules will be punished accordingly.

“We intend to continue with this campaign till 2016. It is going to involve straight talk among members for reconciliation and truth telling without fear,” he added.

Mao said the campaign was launched in Kasawo in Mukono district yesterday (Monday) and are heading to Mityana, Butambala and other districts.