I'm ready to face DP disciplinary committee - Nambooze

Democratic Party (DP) vice president for Buganda region, Betty Nambooze has vowed to appear before the party's disciplinary committee if she is officially summoned.

Nambooze and 12 other DP members were labelled "rebellious" by party president Norbert Mao and are expected to face the party's disciplinary committee on 20^th April.

Others include, former Kampala Mayor Nasser Ssebagala, former DP national chairperson Baswale Keezala, youth minister Florence Nakiwala, Moses Makumbi, Bukenya Mugumya, Robert Okware, Stella Kiryowa, Suzan Abbo and three from the party youth wing.

"I will face the party disciplinary committee, if I'm officially summoned by the DP National Executive Committee (NEC), and I am ready to take on Mao and he should prepare to accommodate over 10,000 witnesses that will come with me," Nambooze told reporters during a press conference at Cardinal Nsubuga Memorial Training Institute at Nsambya, Kampala on Friday.

A fortnight ago, Police arrested several DP members including Nambooze, also the Mukono North MP; over a meeting she had called to chart a way forward for the party.

Others arrested included the Makindye division mayor, Ali Kasirye Mulyanyama, Kampala Central councillor, Moses Katabu, and UYD activists Andrew Mugonza, Charles Wasswa and Robison Kijjambu.

Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro, the deputy party spokesperson, told journalists that NEC had summoned Nambooze over "undermining its unity and constitution".

He accused Nambooze of defying Mao's directive stopping her from holding a regional meeting, saying it was contrary to the party constitution because she fixed the said conference without consulting the NEC.

There has been a sharp division between Mao and Nambooze, ever since the latter proposed to organize a regional conference, which Mao blocked claiming it was illegal and only intended to divide the party.

The matters seem to have taken another twist with Nambooze threatening to sue Mao over using Police to block her conference.

Nambooze argued that Mao has pardoned some "rebellious" leaders who defected to the ruling NRM party, however according to her, they have all vowed to stand with her in a bid to revamp the party.

"The disciplinary committee has been set up to target me, and those supporting the ‘Making DP Great Again' campaign, but we are together with those that have been pardoned by the party," she added.

Nambooze refuted claims that they are working for FDC's Dr. Kiiza Besigye adding, "A strong DP benefits Mao since he is the party president but not Besigye, so why is Mao against it? It is controversial that he doesn't support the party campaign."

Nambooze added she will traverse Northern Uganda especially Gulu next month in an attempt to deal with tribalistic sentiments.

"DP is not for Baganda and we refute these claims. Baganda joined Dr. Milton Obote against Ben Kiwanuka, we formed Suubi and supported Besigye. We don't see any tribalism here" she said.

Herbert Kasolo, a DP member since 1958, also vowed to support Nambooze, accusing Mao of selling the party to NRM.

"How can I support Mao yet he was not on the National Voters' Register and did not vote in the 2016 elections? He backed an independent presidential candidate (Amama Mbabazi) in the same election, we can't allow him 'kill' this party," Kasolo added.

Uganda Young Democrats secretary General Charles Wasswa explained that they have set up a six-point reform charter to make DP great again.

"We will instil the spirit of truth and justice through introducing a code of conduct for the party, reform the party constitution, resolve conflicts and reconcile members and rebrand the party" he said