Mayambala replaces Kezaala as DP national chairman

Dr. Kiwanuka Mayambala has been appointed by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of Democratic Party (DP) as the acting national chairman Democratic Party (DP) replacing Muhammad Baswale Kezaala.

Kezaala, the former mayor of Jinja Town resigned from the position which he had held for over six years following his appointment as deputy ambassador by President Yoweri Museveni last week.  Mayambala has been Kezaala's deputy.

Speaking during the weekly press briefing held at the party headquarters in Kampala yesterday, the party president general Nobert Mao revealed that high level national officials of the party including him met with Kezaala on Saturday and the purpose of the meeting was to get his position on the announcement of his appointment and discuss its implications on the party.

He noted that after a lengthy meeting, Kezaala informed them that he had decided to accept the appointment because he considers it as a civil service position.

"We informed him that our preference and that of the vast majority would be that he rejects the appointment, but ultimately, the decision should be his according to his conscience" said Mao. 

"We also agreed that a public service position cannot be held concurrently with the position of national chairman of DP upon receiving the instrument of appointment of the ambassadorial position and therefore the national chairman had to relinquish the position as the leader in the party," Mao added.

He noted that Kezaala tendered in his resignation letter through the assistant secretary general.

Mao also revealed that Kezaala's departure is not the only problem that has shaken the party saying the party is also going through a crisis of confidence in the party, but as members, will work together to overcome these challenges.

He acknowledged that DP is at a defining moment, with a lot of confusion among some of its members and the party is going to take time to reflect and decide on the least denominators for a person to be in DP.

Explaining the confusion, he said there are those who think DP can go to power by supporting other political parties, there are also those who believe can be part of the regime and yet remain pure DPs, and still those who believe can be part of other opposition parties and still remain in DP.

"No one can serve two masters. You cannot say I am in DP but also in another political party. This does not only apply to NRM but other political parties. This is contradictory to the party's historic mission and vision" he said.