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From (L-R) Lead petitioner Julius Ddumba, Buikwe South MP, Micheal Bayigga Lulume and Edith Byanyima, the daughter to former DP chairman Boniface Byanyima addressing the press. (Photo by Milton Niinga)
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By Milton Niinga
A cross-section of Democratic Party (DP) leaders has petitioned the Electoral Commission (EC) to immediately suspend the upcoming delegates conference intended to change the party’s leadership ahead of the 2026 general elections. The controversial conference, expected to be attended by 1,600 DP members from 151 districts (as per the DP constitution), is scheduled to take place on May 30, 2025, at Asamar Country Resort Hotel in Ruti, Mbarara City.
In an eight-page petition addressed to EC Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama on Thursday, top party leaders led by Julius Ddumba—holder of DP party card no. 3557—challenged the selection of delegates prior to the completion of transparent and verifiable regional elections. They argue this process undermines the DP constitution, which mandates open and fair delegate selection. 
The copy of the petition against the convening of DP Mbarara delegates conference which is under consideration. (Photo by Milton Niinga)
Together with other DP Members of Parliament, Ddumba questioned the manner in which DP Secretary General Gerald Siranda allegedly compiled a list of “fake DP delegates” to convene the top-level organ meeting, which occurs once every five years.
Appearing before the EC, the petitioners cited electoral malpractice and subversion of democratic processes within the party, urging the commission to halt what they termed an illegal process until genuine internal elections are conducted.
“The process of organizing a delegates conference starts with grassroots elections, establishment of branches, and the election of delegates. About one and a half months ago—before even a third of the process had begun—Secretary General Gerald Siranda announced that more than three-quarters of the delegates had already been registered, even before branch elections were held,” Ddumba said.
The lead petitioner Julius Ddumba showing a copy of his petition moves to halt the DP delegates conference in Mbarara district at the end of May. (Photo by Milton Niinga)
Ddumba, who has expressed interest in contesting for party president against the current Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Norbert Mao, said he was shocked to hear Siranda announce that 80% of the delegate list had already been compiled before any grassroots elections took place.
“Siranda claimed that over 1,400 delegates out of 1,600 had already been registered at the Balintuma Road National Campaign Party Headquarters to attend the conference in Mbarara,” Ddumba said.
“We are here to petition the independent EC to investigate and audit how this process was carried out. We ask the EC to suspend the ongoing electoral process—including the national delegates conference—until constitutional order is restored, as empowered under Section 22 of the Political Parties and Organisations Act, 2005 (as amended),” he emphasized.
“This is highly suspicious and cannot be tolerated in a decisive conference meant to change party leadership. Political parties are democratic spaces that must respect the rule of law,” he added.
He further alleged that the electoral management committee should be nullified, claiming it is not provided for in the party constitution and was never approved in the recent National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Soroti.
Byanyima disputes selected delegates list
Edith Byanyima, daughter of one of Uganda's pioneer pre-independence politicians and former DP Chairman Boniface Byanyima, criticized the manner in which Siranda selected the delegates.
“DP members deserve justice. There is a clique of leaders at Balintuma and City House who refuse to respond to important questions, but this will not go unchallenged,” she said.
Edith Byanyima, a daughter to former DP Chairman, Bonifance Byanyima insisted that no elections were conducted in Mbarara, Kiruhura and Kazo. (Photo by Milton Niinga)
Byanyima denied that Siranda led a national team to conduct grassroots elections, noting that leadership changes are being driven without consulting stakeholders—especially after Mao joined the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government through the DP-NRM cooperation agreement.
“In Kiruhura and Kazo, where I come from, no elections were held. They never reached Mbarara, Kiruhura, or even Kazo. If the delegates’ conference in Mbarara proceeds, it will be a sham,” she declared.
DP MPs support petitioners' demands
Buikwe South MP Michael Bayigga Lulume, who accompanied the petitioners to EC offices at Plot 1-3/5, Seventh Street, Industrial Area in Kampala, urged Justice Byabakama to intervene and halt the conference.
“In Kayunga and Buikwe, where I come from, they had already established a party register. In Makindye, they compiled a list for the delegates conference without any election held in Kampala,” he alleged.
“These are fake DP lists meant to eventually dissolve the party into the NRM. The delegates conference never directed the NEC to negotiate the DP-NRM cooperation agreement—this is the crisis facing DP,” Lulume stated.-
Lumu rejects gazetted amendments
Richard Lumu, MP for Mityana South and the Deputy National Legal Advisor, said the amendments submitted to the EC were not the ones agreed upon and signed during the Gulu delegates conference.
“I wrote to the EC to alert them that the gazetted amendments were never moved or agreed upon by the delegates. What was gazetted is entirely different and criminal in nature,” he said.
During the Sir Samuel Baker National Delegates Conference in Gulu, delegates overwhelmingly rejected any “management committee” that empowers a small elite to make party decisions.
Sebamala criticizes leadership monopoly
Bukoto Central MP Richard Sebamala expressed concern that key party decisions are now made by only four individuals.
“Details of the DP-NRM cooperation agreement were kept secret. It was only Mao, his deputy Fred Mukasa Mbidde, Siranda, and Chairman Dr. Kiwanuka Mayambala who made these decisions at Balintuma,” Sebamala said.
In the petition, the leaders asked the EC to nullify the unilaterally gazetted DP constitution until it is confirmed that the provisions were duly adopted by a properly convened NEC meeting.
“As impartial arbiters, we seek justice. Only the EC can compel Siranda and Mao to organize a free and fair delegates conference that reflects the will of DP members,” Sebamala stated.
He also called on the EC to investigate allegations of intimidation and exclusion of members who questioned constitutional violations, and to reinstate any wrongfully expelled individuals.
Richard Sebamala, the Bukoto Central MP said that the top party decisions were only ringfenced for only four people who decided on DP-NRM deal. (Photo by Milton Niinga)
Controversy over Secretary General's role
Sebamala criticized the insertion of Clause 29(A)(a), which appoints the Secretary General as the party’s chief administrative and accounting officer, saying it was never approved by the delegates.
“This was clearly done to allow underhand dealings without involving the party treasurer,” he said.
He further objected to the inflation of nomination fees by over 200%, saying this was meant to exclude grassroots aspirants and reserve leadership positions for the wealthy elite.
“This violates the Leadership Code of Conduct and stifles fair competition,” Sebamala added.
He warned that presenting resolutions that were never adopted in Gulu to the EC may amount to forgery and uttering false documents.
Siranda responds
Siranda dismissed the allegations, accusing critics of seeking to undermine the party.
“If your father was in DP, we appreciate him, but that doesn’t automatically qualify you to be a party leader. Some people only got their membership cards recently,” he said, referencing Edith Byanyima.
“This delegates conference will proceed. It will take place from May 30 to June 1, 2025. Most districts have submitted their delegate lists; only ten are still voting,” he confirmed.
DP secretary general Gerald Siranda explaining about Mbarara delegates conference which he says must be held. (Photo by Milton Niinga)
Regarding the amendments, Siranda said they stem from a long process beginning with the 2005 Namboole meeting, followed by Mbale (2015), Katomi Kingdom Resort (Wakiso), and Gulu (2020).
“We don’t fabricate delegates or amendments. Once the delegates approve an amendment, it becomes law—even without a gazette,” he said.
He added that the constitution needed amendments to align with the national constitution, particularly to include affirmative action categories such as PWDs, elders, workers, and diaspora members.
Electoral Commission Principal Public Relations Officer, Paul Bukenya who received the petition on behalf of chairperson cautioned parties against breaking internal laws. (Photo by Milton Niinga)
EC acknowledges petition
Paul Bukenya, Principal Public Relations Officer at the EC, confirmed receipt of the petition on behalf of the Chairperson and promised that the matter would be handled alongside other similar complaints.
However, he warned political parties against breaching existing laws during leadership transitions.
“As a commission, we are committed to addressing all petitions expeditiously to ensure discipline, accountability, and the rule of law—because political parties serve the citizens, not individual leaders,” Bukenya said.
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