Mao scoffs at Sebamala as UPC urges youth action

29 May 2025, 11:49 am

By Ronald Ssemagonja

The President General of the Democratic Party (DP) and Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Norbert Mao, while addressing journalists yesterday at the party offices in Balintuma, Kampala, stated that all those wishing to contest for the DP presidency must fulfill all the requirements stipulated in the party constitution—one of which is having been an active member of the party for at least 10 years. He assured that all delegates attending the Mbarara conference will be safe; however, only those with invitations from the party Secretary General will be granted access to the venue.

“My brother Mbidde wanted to contest for DP Deputy President, but he couldn’t because the constitution did not allow him to do so. That is why he was given another position as Legal Advisor. These laws are not for Mao—they are for DP,” Mao said. “Hon. Sebamala should take it slow. We cannot allow hooliganism in DP. There are those who want to change the party constitution, but they can’t.”

He added that the party will not allow anyone to disrupt the forthcoming Delegates’ Conference scheduled for 30th May 2025 in Mbarara.

Regarding the issue of meeting the leader of Operation Wealth Creation, Gen. Salim Saleh, in Gulu, Mao clarified that he only acted as a bridge for those who wished to meet the General and that the meeting had nothing to do with how the party is run.

“The meeting with Gen. Saleh was not about DP. I was used as a bridge for those who wanted to meet him to discuss economic matters. So, it is not true that I took delegates to Saleh, and we did not receive any money from him,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) party has joined christians in Uganda and around the world in celebrating Martyrs Day, which takes place annually on 3rd June at Namugongo.

Delivering the party’s message during a press briefing at their headquarters in Kampala, UPC Spokesperson Sharon Arach Oyat emphasised the need for national reflection during this period.
“This year’s theme, ‘Walking in the Footsteps of the Martyrs for a Faithful Journey,’ calls for deep reflection on how we have pursued our goals as individuals, as a society, as political parties, and as a government,” she said.

Arach noted that Uganda is plagued by selfishness and greed, which have led to primitive accumulation of wealth and corruption.
“Our brothers and sisters are faced with endless land evictions, denying them a decent livelihood. Those in charge seem to be unhelpful. The ordinary person appears to be at the mercy of God,” she lamented.

She further urged the youth to rise and be counted as a new generation of martyrs, fighting for justice and their rights.
“The time has come for this country to seriously consider ‘walking in the footsteps for a faithful journey,’ or else people may perish at the hands of extreme greed, corruption, nepotism, sectarianism, and tribalism,” Arach concluded.