Democratic Party delegates are warming up to assemble in Mbarara this June, 2025 for their NDC, what should have been an anticipated jubilant atmosphere now seem to be soured by a series of internal rows, including over the decision by Mao and Siranda to shift the goal-posts for the election’s rules and regulations and the revision of the DP constitution barely a few weeks to the National Delegates Conference.
Revelations about the last-minute amendments of the DP constitution including Article 17 which grants an elected National Executive Committee to assume full responsibility of the management, operations of the day-to-day operations of the party and safeguarding of all party programs, substituting it by inserting Article 19(a) which provides for management sub- committee composed of the top 4 principal officers of the party to handle emergency administrative situations and decisions. This stems from party members demands to know who authorized Hon. Mao and Hon. Siranda to commit the party into a cooperative agreement with M7 and his NRM party without consulting the top most decision making organs of the party.
This amendments to substitute the National Executive Committee among many others were not part of the changes that was discussed and made by delegates in the previous delegates conference in Gulu. It is the party’s National Delegates Conference that is mandated to make alterations, revisions and changes to the party’s supreme laws. The DP-NRM Cooperation Agreement has turned out as one the main voters’ concern and demand at the DP NDC. This move has surprised many DP members including those who plan to stand on various party leadership positions.
Internal party changes
Given it is taking place within the next months, many thought this conference will mark the turning point for Uganda’s oldest political party in Uganda. Rumors have it that members at he NDC were destined to overhaul DP’s rulebook to limit the powers of the Secretary General over leadership elections. Some party leaders in the West Nile region and Western Uganda region DP branches are now pushing for an extra-ordinary National Council meeting before the National Delegates Conference in Mbarara to allow the office of the Secretary General streamline a few elections administrative issues, but going ahead with it would trigger an almighty row that could overshadow the rest of the conference.
The extra-ordinary national council meeting will be asked to appoint an independent election management committee that will be in charge of the elections where Siranda, Mbidde, Mao and some of their agents emerged as shortlisted candidates.
Also, on members request for at the extra-ordinary national council meeting is to request the council revise the nomination fees for those intending stand on DP leadership in various positions which many members including aspirants believe it’s way too high and outrageous.
