KAMPALA
The Uganda Young Democrats (UYD), the youth wing of the Democratic Party (DP), has petitioned the Electoral Commission (EC) to halt the nomination of party president Norbert Mao as a presidential candidate, citing unresolved disputes over his leadership.
In a letter addressed to EC chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama on Monday, August 18, UYD accused Mao of being “fraudulently elected” at the controversial Mbarara delegates’ conference. The group argued that petitions challenging the outcome remain pending before the commission and must be resolved before any nomination proceeds.
UYD leaders further claimed that the EC has not officially recognized the new DP National Executive Committee (NEC) elected in Mbarara, since it has not been published in the Uganda Gazette. “We have in our possession all gazette copies since the Mbarara delegates’ conference, but there is none where the new DP NEC was gazetted,” the statement read.
The group warned that allowing Mao’s nomination would amount to aiding illegality. “As a party that prides itself in constitutionalism and rule of law, we shall not just sit and watch a Minister of Justice, under the watch of the distinguished Justice Simon Byabakama, defile the same laws they are supposed to be custodians of,” UYD said.
The youth faction also instructed DP district chairpersons not to permit grassroots mobilization for Mao’s nomination signatures. They further threatened to physically block any attempt to nominate him at EC offices if the leadership dispute is not addressed.
“We would rather have no presidential candidate than abet illegalities, until order is restored within the party,” the statement added.
The Electoral Commission has not yet issued an official response to the petition.
