Namayanja, Mbidde squabble over Masaka DP offices

By Dismus Buregyeya

BUKOTO East MP Florence Namayanja has asked the Masaka District DP Chairman, Denis Mukasa Mbidde to open the party offices which he closed after a fight between leaders and supporters.

Namayanja who is the district party treasurer told New Vision in a phone interview that Mbidde did not have the powers to close the party offices without the consent of the district party executive committee team.

She said the DP offices were opened with financial contribution of supporters and leaders. 

Namayanja who contributed sh1.5m towards the opening of the offices said Mbidde is among the officials with the least contribution towards the office.

“Mbidde must understand that the Masaka DP office is not personal property, it’s for all DP members because they all contributed money. Imagine Mbidde has only contributed sh100,000 ever since the party offices opened last year,” she said.

Mbidde told New Vision that he will not reopen the offices until further notice.  He said the office has turned into a source of chaos.

He said some members come to the offices when drunk during day time. Mbidde said the party activities will be held at sub-county and division offices.

The district party secretary, Joseph Kasekende said they will forcefully open the office on Wednesday.  

Supporters of DP in Masaka gather outside the party office before its closure by Mbidde. Photo by Dismus Buregyeya

“We have given Mbidde Wednesday as the ultimatum, we have copies of the keys,” he said.

Mbidde stormed Masaka Central Police Station on Monday seeking for police deployment at the closed offices.

The Southern Regional Police Commander (RPC) Maxwell Ogwal said police will not provide police personnel to guard DP offices.

He advised Mbidde to hire private guards to provide security to their offices. Ogwal said police will only intervene if a fight erupts again at their office.

Tempers flared between the party deputy party organizing committee Chairperson, Dick Lukyamuzi and Mbidde over a petition filed in dispute of the parish and village party elections in Kimaanya-Kyabakuza division.

The lead petitioner, Zahara  Nalubyayi had decided to withdraw the petition but Mbidde halted the move on grounds that the DP party chairperson for Masaka Municipality, Railus Mayanja had already passed a resolution nullifying the results.

The Southern Regional Police Spokesman, Noah Sserunjongi said police had opened investigations into the matter.

He said Lukyamuzi has opened a case of threatening violence against Mbidde and his assistant Innocent Kateregga.

Mbidde said the evidence adduced by the petitioners was enough to nullify the parish and sub county election for Kimaanya-Kyabakuza division.

He said strange voters from Mutesa I Royal University were imported to participate in the election.

He said traces of white wash were evident where some voters were erased especially in Kizungu.  Lukyamuzi told New Vision that the party will take disciplinary action against Mbidde.