Mbarara, Uganda – The air inside the Democratic Party’s (DP) 12th National Delegates Conference is thick with rebellion, and the man lighting the fire is none other than Bukoto Central MP Richard Sebamala.
Sebamala has vowed to end Norbert Mao’s 15-year reign as DP President, claiming Ugandans are fed up with bad leadership and secret alliances with the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Speaking to delegates and media at the ongoing conference held at the Asamar Hotel in Mbarara City, Sebamala did not mince words:
“Ugandans are tired. They don’t want leaders who sneak them into the NRM behind their backs. What Mao has failed to achieve in 15 years, I can deliver in just one,” he declared,
Sebamala’s explosive remarks highlight a deepening ideological rift within Uganda’s oldest political party. The tension stems mainly from Norbert Mao’s cooperation agreement with President Yoweri Museveni and the NRM government, signed in 2022, a move many DP members say was made without consultation from grassroots structures.
“Mao sold the party without shame. He is now more NRM than some NRM members.”
Sebamala has positioned himself as the face of a DP Redemption Movement, a call to restore the party’s autonomy, credibility, and relevance ahead of Uganda’s 2026 general elections.
Norbert Mao, who became DP president in 2010, has defended his deal with Museveni as a strategic move for peaceful transition and national dialogue, but critics like Sebamala view it as a betrayal of opposition values.
“He speaks of dialogue, but what dialogue happens in secret? What kind of leader blindsides his own party?” Sebamala asked, visibly emotional.
He further alleged that Mao’s leadership has been marred by inactivity, self-preservation, and suppression of internal democracy.
With delegates converging from across Uganda for the three-day conference, the DP presidential race is no longer just about leadership, it’s about identity.
Party insiders say Sebamala’s campaign has rapidly gained momentum, especially among younger delegates and regional mobilizers eager to see DP reborn.
“This is our time. We’re not just replacing a president, we’re reclaiming the Democratic Party.”
The final vote for DP’s top leadership is expected before the conference concludes on May 31.
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