By Eye Media Reporter
GULU – Tension is simmering within Uganda’s oldest political party, the Democratic Party (DP), following shocking revelations that party president Norbert Mao secretly transported over 30 National Executive Committee (NEC) members to the Gulu residence of General Salim Saleh, just days before the party’s crucial National Delegates Conference slated for May 30 in Mbarara.
According to sources close to the unfolding drama, the meeting was held under tight secrecy at the controversial army general’s home, raising alarm bells among party loyalists who now accuse Mao of compromising the independence of the party by aligning with powerful state figures.
The delegates, mostly those loyal to Mao, were allegedly booked quietly and moved discreetly, with no prior knowledge of other party structures or officials. The agenda of the closed-door meeting remains unclear, but insiders say it focused on strategies to ensure Mao retains his grip on the party during the upcoming Mbarara conference.
The backlash has been immediate. Supporters of Bukoto Central MP Richard Sebamala, who is gunning for the DP presidency, are crying foul, accusing Mao of using underhand methods to eliminate internal competition.
“We have it on good record that this meeting with Gen. Saleh was not about party unity—it was about entrenching Mao’s rule using state influence,” said Daniel Mivule, the DP Organizing Secretary for Nansana Municipality. “How can a party that claims to be democratic conduct such meetings in the dark?”
The situation boiled over at DP headquarters on Balintuma Road in Kampala, where chaos erupted as members clashed over alleged manipulation of the delegates’ list. Several Sebamala allies claim they were deliberately removed from the list of invitees to the Mbarara conference to weaken his voting bloc.
Security operatives were later deployed to the party offices to calm the situation as fears grew that the internal power struggle could escalate into open confrontation. Meanwhile, the party’s top leadership has remained tight-lipped, offering no explanation about the Gulu meeting or the growing concerns over the integrity of the upcoming conference.
Analysts say the events point to deep cracks within the Democratic Party and could determine its survival in Uganda’s shifting political terrain.
As the May 30 Delegates Conference approaches, all eyes are on Mbarara—where Mao’s leadership and the soul of the DP could face the ultimate test.
