DP's national executive member campaigns for Kyagulanyi

The Democratic Party (DP) supporters in Masaka are still baffled by the party National Treasurer who has started asking supporters at campaign meetings to vote for the National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi, instead of her own party flag bearer Nobert Mao.

Mary Babirye Kabanda, the Masaka incumbent Woman Member of Parliament and now vying for the same seat under Masaka City constituency has changed her campaign approach and is asking supporters to vote for the NUP candidate instead of DP's Mao.  

At a campaign rally, at Kyabakuza on Thursday, November 12, Kabanda told supporters that at the Presidential level they should tick the umbrella, a symbol used by Kyagulanyi but when it comes to other candidates they should tick the hoe, which is the symbol for DP.

Kabanda, who was cheered by supporters went ahead and stressed that voters should not be misled by looking for Bobi Wine on the ballot paper, but for Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu.

The Kyabakuza meeting was attended by DP National General Secretary, Deogratius Kiyingi, who is also the Bukomansimbi South parliamentary party flag bearer.

According to Kabanda, a section of DP leaders tried in vain to persuade Mao not to contest for the presidency, so that the party would rally behind Kyagulanyi, but he ignored them.

She told the supporters that Mao tried the same seat and lost and the party agreed to support Forum for Democratic Change's Dr. Kizza Besigye who also lost and in the last elections, they agreed to back former Prime Minister, Amama Mbabazi who also lost.

"This time we had all agreed to support Kyagulanyi but Mao went against our suggestion," she said.

The DP national vice chairman, Fred Mukasa Mbidde, who is vying for the Nyendo-Mukungwe parliamentary seat did not attend the meeting after the two who had agreed to make joint campaigns decided to go single.

Kabanda is contesting against NUP's Juliet Kakande Nakabuye and National Resistance Movement (NRM)'s Christine Kibudde. 

Others are Hadija Nanyonjo and Florence Owamaria who are on independent tickets.

It is not clear yet whether Kabanda will receive Mao when he goes to campaign in Masaka city or receive Kyagulanyi who already has a candidate in the race.