DP youth endorse Mbidde for EALA seat

The youth wing of the Democratic Party (DP) under its umbrella Uganda Young Democrats (UYDs) has openly declared its support for their party vice president Fred Mukasa Mbidde as their candidate for the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA). 

The party's National Executive Committee (NEC) recently endorsed the incumbent, Mbidde. As a resolution made by NEC the previous year, the party decided that its incumbent member who wishes to retain their seat would not be substituted. 

"The Democratic Party NEC in its absolute discretion in Article 69(b) of the party's constitution recently endorsed Denis Fred Mukasa Mbidde, the incumbent which is good for institutional memory considering that majority of the EALA MPs from Uganda are precluded from running again," said Christopher Okidi, the UYD president. 

Okidi pledged support from the UYDs stating that Mbidde was nurtured with in the bosom of UYD where he has risen through the ranks. 

"UYD has a formation mechanism that nurtures the best breed of leaders, others have been poached but Mbidde has remained true to DP" Okidi said. 

Okidi also lashed at those that have since been trying to promote hate campaign against Mbidde for attending the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Liberation Day celebrations that took place recently in Masindi District. He said that this is being brought about by some "myopic quarters" of the party which even bordered on ethnic slurs. 

"As UYD top leadership, we disassociate from such statements. UYD is national in character and we shall not entertain it being reduced to anyone's parochial picture" said Okidi. 

Okidi idefended Mbidde's move saying that he is a shrewd leader with good strategy who understands that in order to win; one must attain the support of the majority thus the ongoing reproach being uncalled for. 

"Remember NRM has the majority Members of Parliament that if you have to win, you have to endear yourself to them" said Okidi. 

Okidi also said that Mbidde's exceptional performance in EALA is one of the major reasons the party decided to retain him. 

"He tabled a private members bill on cross border professional services, which bill sought to regulate the movement of professional labour, set similar academic qualifications and harmonize payment for professionals in the East African region" he said. 

The UYDs also blamed the ruling party for the current defections that the party is suffering. They criticized NRM for "poaching" the opposition citing the recent ambassadorial appointments stating that ruling party needs to learn how to groom its own leaders rather than approaching those from other parties. 

Among those appointed were former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) legislator Michael Ochula and former Jinja mayor Mohammed Basweri Kezala who also recently resigned from his post as the party national chairman immediately after his appointment. 

The party was also rocked by deputy woman leader in Kampala, Stella Kiryowa, picked NRM nomination forms for EALA.

"The two individuals have been with no doubt conscientiously committed to the Democratic Party" Okidi said. 

"As UYD we consider these defections as a temporary setback, because it comes at a time when we put retention of our members as top priority in our strategic planning process considering that UYD too has over the years groomed very promising young leaders and guild presidents who have ended up in the NRM fold" he added.