Mao seeks fourth term as DP president

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The Democratic Party (DP) president general, Norbert Mao, has formally declared his intention to seek re-election, extending his 15-year tenure at the helm of Uganda’s oldest political party.

As part of his campaign for the upcoming internal elections, he has appointed DP vice president Mukasa Mbidde as his campaign manager.

Mao said the party has suffered deep divisions in recent years and argued that he is the only leader capable of reconciling its fractured ranks. He attributed the turmoil largely to petty internal squabbles.

Speaking shortly after picking nomination forms at the DP headquarters in Kampala on Tuesday, April 29, Mao described the party as the most democratic in the country, and criticised some media outlets, accusing them of working to undermine it.

“Our internal organs are functional, and disagreements do not equate to chaos. However, you, the media, have played a significant role in trying to disorganise the DP. Shame on you. When my vice president wrote to me regarding the cooperation agreement, you rushed to spread rumours and negativity. But I can assure you, your efforts have failed. We are here to stay,” Mao said.

He added that the party remains open to reconciliation with former members who fell out due to internal rifts.

Mao also dismissed claims from some opposition figures that DP had been “sold” to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), calling such assertions “comedy.”

He explained that he lacks the authority to sell the party or sign any agreement without the endorsement of the party’s top decision-making body, the National Delegates Conference.

Commenting on the recent sh100m cash bonanza in Parliament, the DP president and Justice Minister criticised what he called “the fake parliamentary opposition” for stalling change by failing to take decisive action.

“I have captained this ship for some time now. The time has come for me to take it back to the delegates' conference. I will take it back on May 30 in Mbarara, and ask if I can be retained or thrown out,” Mao said.

Mao’s announcement comes as DP is rolling out its electoral roadmap, which will culminate in the selection of its presidential flag bearer for the upcoming general elections.

Addressing journalists at the party headquarters, Mao said the entire process aims to lay a strong foundation for internal democracy.

“We are the mothers of democracy in Uganda's political space. We have been here preaching the gospel of democracy since 1954,” Mao said.

According to the roadmap, DP began electing grassroots leaders at the village level from April 1 to 6, followed by the selection of parish-level leaders from April 7 to 13.

Between April 14 and 20, the party elected sub-county leadership, and is now in the process of selecting constituency leaders, a process running from April 21 to 27.

At the district level, elections began on April 24 and will run until May 4. The national leadership will then be selected from May 21 to May 30.

The internal electoral process will conclude with the National Delegates Conference on May 30 in Mbarara, during which the party will elect its President General, who, under the DP constitution, also becomes its presidential flag bearer in the general elections.

54 positions up for grabs

According to the roadmap, 54 national leadership positions are available. At the district level, 26 positions will be contested in each district, while 13 positions are open at the subcounty level.

Parties gear up

With the 2026 general elections on the horizon, political parties are intensifying preparations for what is expected to be a highly competitive electoral cycle. However, these efforts are unfolding amid internal strife within some of the major opposition parties.

For instance, having opted out of the 2021 presidential race, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has struggled with weak leadership, persistent defections, and a lingering identity crisis following the diminished presence of its former leader, Dr Kizza Besigye. Current party president Patrick Amuriat faces the uphill task of restoring unity.

Tensions began after Besigye backed Amuriat to take over the party presidency in 2017. Alongside Najjanankumbi-based secretary general Nandala Mafabi, they opposed former party leader and founder Mugisha Muntu in a highly contested race.

Amuriat, a relatively obscure politician who remained close to Besigye, defeated Muntu, a nationally recognised figure, in a contest driven by ideological divisions. It was reminiscent of the 2012 delegates’ conference, where Muntu, then backed by Besigye, beat Nandala but was later branded a mole. Muntu eventually left the party in 2018.

Both DP and the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) have since signed Memoranda of Understanding with the NRM, with senior officials from both parties now holding cabinet positions. Mao serves as justice minister, while Betty Amongi, a UPC member and wife to UPC chairman Jimmy Akena, is the gender and labour minister.

Besigye’s fears about political co-option appear well-founded. The NRM has previously absorbed prominent FDC figures, including Beti Kamya, Beatrice Anywar, Thomas Tayebwa, Anita Among, and most recently Joyce Ssebugwawo.