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DP fighting at the podium before the press conference took place. (Photo by Milton Niinga)
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By Milton Niinga
A section of Democratic Party (DP) members is nursing injuries after they were attacked by fellow party supporters who stormed the party headquarters on Balintuma Road at the National Campaign offices, demanding to see the list of delegates selected to attend the Mbarara conference scheduled for the end of this month. The scuffle broke out when senior party leaders ordered the closure of the entrance after sensing danger, as several supporters appeared in DP t-shirts from a closed-door meeting organized by Bukoto Central Member of Parliament, Richard Sebamala.
"We found the party security guards had locked the gates on orders from the President General, Norbert Mao. We forced our way in to check the delegate lists submitted for the Mbarara conference, even before elections had taken place in many areas," said Daniel Mivule, the DP Organizing Secretary for Nansana Division.
"We paid nomination fees and submitted our interest forms, but we are not on the list — and we are left with only two days!" Mivule fumed, after forcefully opening the gate.
DP fighting at the podium before the press conference took place. (Photo by Milton Niinga)
The situation escalated when DP member Mulindwa Kikwenokweno clashed with the party electoral committee chairperson, Kennedy Mutenyo, who was reportedly concealing the delegate lists under his coat at the time of the scuffle. "I have sustained bruises and my left arm is injured. I plan to report a case of assault to the police because I was pushed to the ground by someone who found out he was missing from my list," Mutenyo said.
DP security guards at Balintuma Road National Campaign Headquarters in Rubaga division Kampala. (Photo by Milton Niinga)
The delegates' conference, which is at the center of the conflict, is expected to attract 1,600 DP members from 151 districts, as outlined in the DP constitution. It is slated to take place on May 31, 2025, at Asana Country Resort Hotel, Ruti in Mbarara City.
"On my list, 30 out of 54 delegate positions are unopposed. Only 23 positions are set to be contested in Mbarara between May 31 and June 1," Mutenyo added.
"Other leaders who were disqualified include Andrew Ntale, who had contested for the position of President of the Uganda Young Democrats, and several others who failed to meet requirements outlined in our DP constitution," he emphasized.
The police which came to stop the fight appeared to the angry DP supporters charged to fight until they were contained. (Photo by Milton Niinga)
Sebamala removed from delegate list
Sebamala, who has served on the DP National Council for five years since joining on September 19, 2020, was removed from the list of candidates for the party’s top leadership. According to the DP constitution, a minimum of 10 years of active membership is required to contest for the position of President General.
"Sebamala was removed from the list despite holding a DP ticket in Parliament. He has been organizing clandestine moves to create confusion in the party, which we discovered too late," Mutenyo said.
Sebamala, who met the aggrieved delegates on Wednesday morning at Twin Tower Hotel in Makerere–Kavule, learned that their names were missing from the official delegate list submitted by DP Secretary General Gerald Siranda Blacks to the electoral committee chairperson.
"With only two days left, we still haven’t seen the final list of selected delegates who are supposed to elect our party leaders for the next five years, ending in 2030," Sebamala said.
Bukoto Central Member of Parliament, Richard Sebamala who was kicked out of the race as DP president general to replace Mao. (Photo by Milton Niinga)
He also accused Mao of siding with the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), following reports of a meeting with President Yoweri Museveni’s brother, Gen. Salim Saleh, also known as Caleb Akandwanaho.
"Mao must be voted out in Mbarara if the DP is to remain on the right path. He lacks transparency and has allied with our greatest political rival, Yoweri Museveni," Sebamala claimed.
Mao responds to meeting with Gen. Saleh
Norbert Mao, who arrived late for a press conference following the chaos, clarified that his meeting with Gen. Salim Saleh — which included other DP members — was meant to explore how the government could support poverty eradication efforts in Northern Uganda.
"My meeting with Gen. Saleh wasn’t about renewing DP-NRM cooperation. It was to lobby support for my DP colleagues in the opposition, so they could benefit from government programs. Saleh is the Coordinator for Operation Wealth Creation and a personal friend," Mao explained.
Bukoto Central Member of Parliament, Richard Sebamala who was kicked out of the race as DP president general to replace Mao. (Photo by Milton Niinga)
He added that the meeting, which was held at his home, also involved seeking logistical support for the delegates’ conference. However, he denied allegations that they received financial support from Saleh.
"Our international funders pulled out of some of our activities, but ironically, some NRM members have instead been funding Sebamala to create chaos within the party," he stated.
DP electoral management committee chairperson Kennedy Mutenyo showing his bruised arm that was injured during the fight with Mulindwa Kikwanokwano. (Photo by Milton Niinga)
Two weeks ago, a group of DP leaders led by Julius Ddumba petitioned Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama, challenging the selection of delegates before the completion of transparent, verifiable regional elections. The petition emphasized the need for a fair and open process, which they claim was not followed.
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