Mao goes on leave as Nsubuga takes over DP
DP president Norbert Mao (L) addresses journalists yesterday. Right is the party vice president central, Mr Ssebuliba Mutumba. PHOTO BY JOSEPH KIGGUNDU
What you need to know:
Still head. The DP president, however, maintains he is still the party boss.
Kampala. Democratic Party president Norbert Mao yesterday announced he was taking leave from the day-to-day running of the party affairs due to ill-health.
“I have decided to take a break to continue my recuperation. I interrupted it to lead the campaigns in the Amuru and Busia by-elections and I need time to regain my full strength. I, however, remain president of the Democratic Party,” Mr Mao told journalists at the party headquarters in Kampala.
He said he left the running of the party affairs to DP secretary general Mathias Nsubuga and urged all contenders for the party’s presidency to adhere to the provisions of the party constitution.
“I welcome those who seek leadership positions in the party and those who seek to vie for elective positions under the banner of the DP. All they should know is that DP has a constitution and all the processes shall follow its provisions,” Mr Mao said.
Last year, Mr Mao spent more than a month in Nairobi Hospital undergoing treatment.
On Monday, Mr Kenneth Kakande, the DP spokesperson, told Daily Monitor that the party would soon release a roadmap for the Delegates Conference and other activities following meetings on Friday and Saturday.
Mr Mao did not say whether he will stand for a second term at the party’s next elections for the presidency.
“As for whether I will seek to offer myself as DP president at the next delegates conference is a decision I will make at the appropriate time. For now my focus is to continue to unify the party and ensure all processes reflect the will of the entire party, not sections of it,” Mao told reporters yesterday.
Addressing journalists at his residence in Wakaliga Lubaga Division on Monday, Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago made remarks that suggested he could be in the running for the party presidency.
“There is a hot debate in the DP on who should take charge. That debate has been there for a long time, it has rattled Mr Mao that I hear he banned any meetings,” Mr Lukwago told reporters.
“There has been talk that Lukwago plans to stand for president general. I did not start that debate but this being an election year, I encourage the debate to continue because it is healthy and I enjoy it,” he added.
The party last held a delegates conference in 2010 where Mr Mao was elected president on February 20, 2010.
In 2011, he contested for the country’s presidency on the DP ticket.
During the 2011 general elections, several prominent DP leaders like Lord Mayor Lukwago, MPs Mr Lulume Bayigga (Buikwe South), Ms Betty Nambooze (Mukono Municipality), Mr Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi (Butambala) and Mr Medard Lubega Sseggona (Busiro East) fell out with Mr Mao’s leadership and shifted their support to FDC presidential candidate Kizza Besigye.
In 2013, Mr Mao suspended Mr Kakande, who was then party’s acting spokesperson, and Vincent Mayanja, the deputy secretary general, accusing them of insubordination.
Mr Kakande was reinstated last week.
The two had organised a Delegates Conference for the Uganda Young Democrats (UYD), the party’s youth wing, despite objections from the party’s executive committee headed by Mao.
Mao’s famous quotes
On presidency. “Being president of Uganda is a bit like being a rodeo rider. If you can hang on to this wild horse for 20 years, surely you are a person who should be a case study.”
Variations in country. “We have always said there are two Ugandas. There is the Uganda for which President Museveni receives praise, where the economy is growing, where investment is taking place and the infrastructure is improved. Then there is the other Uganda, where there are displaced people, where there is no peace, where HIV is on the increase and where the conflict has devastated lives.””
On elections. “The election pitted hope against fear. We represented and still represent hope for a better future. President Museveni and the NRM represented fear in its worst form.”
Electoral commission. “We went into the election not because we trusted the Electoral Commission but because we trusted the people. We went forward in faith that it is possible to win even an unfair election.”
On change of govt. “We have been pushed too far. Our backs are against the wall. We cannot sentence our country to another five years of oppression, poverty, nepotism, corruption and poor service delivery.”
