By Our Reporter,
MBARARA
Democratic Party (DP) President General and Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Norbert Mao, is facing intense backlash from within his party ranks, as accusations of betrayal and political collusion with the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) overshadow the DP’s ongoing Delegates Conference at Asamar Hotel in Ruti, Mbarara City.
Since Friday, Mao has reportedly been unable to access the main tent where the three-day conference is taking place. On Saturday, he was seen addressing party delegates through a megaphone from outside the venue. Journalists were blocked from covering the address, further fueling speculation and concern over the growing internal divisions.
The situation escalated on Friday when Mao arrived at Asamar hotel in Ruti, Mbarara, in an open-roofed vehicle. A crowd of delegates and party supporters quickly surrounded him, expressing outrage over his leadership and alleged secret dealings with the NRM.
Several delegates accused Mao of undermining the party’s independence by allegedly facilitating a meeting between a select group of DP members and Gen. Salim Saleh (Caleb Akandwanaho), the brother of President Yoweri Museveni. The alleged meeting was purportedly intended to secure bribes and consolidate Mao’s bid for a fourth term as party president.
Chants of protest filled the air, with delegates shouting in Luganda: “Twakukowa Kisajja Gwe” (“We are fed up with you, man”) and “Ddayo mu bufumbo bwo ne Museveni” (“Return to your marriage with Museveni”), signaling deep frustration over what many see as a betrayal of the party’s legacy and autonomy.
Sources close to Mao say he is concerned for his safety and is avoiding the main venue to prevent further confrontation. The party leadership has not yet issued an official statement regarding the allegations or Mao’s limited participation in the conference.
Confusion has flared the conference as many delegates claim that they have not been accredited to attend the meeting, yet non-delegates were accredited. Richard Ssebamala, the Bukoto Central MP and one of the contestants for DP party presidential race alleged that two buses ferried in university students from Mbarara and Kampala last night, to vote incumbent Mao.
“The real delegates who travelled long distances to Mbarara have not been accredited, the is already flawed and we won’t accept it,” Ssebamala argued.
The DP Delegates Conference, which is expected to conclude on Sunday, was convened to elect new leadership and chart the party’s future direction ahead of the 2026 general elections. However, the confusion that has marred the conference is likely to derail the efforts and deepen the party’s ongoing crisis.
