By Ben Musanje
The Democratic Party (DP) has postponed its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting that was scheduled for September 11–12, 2026, to allow party officials to honour the late King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV and stand in solidarity with the people of Tooro during the mourning period.
According to a press release sent out by Norbert Mao’s Press Secretary Fred Mwesigwa, the meeting will now take place in the first week of October 2026, according to a statement issued by the party.
DP President General Norbert Mao said the decision was prompted by the coincidence between the national mourning and burial arrangements for King Oyo and the dates initially set for the party’s NEC meeting.
“Since the national mourning period and burial date for King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV coincides with the dates of the DP NEC Meeting, I directed our Secretary General to postpone the meeting,” Mao said.
Mao said the decision also reflects the long-standing historical relationship between the Democratic Party and the Tooro sub-region.
He noted that Tooro returned DP Members of Parliament in the 1961, 1962 and 1980 General Elections, highlighting the political ties that have existed between the party and the region for decades.
Among those elected on the DP ticket was the late William Nyakatura, who became a Member of Parliament in 1980 and later served as Prime Minister of the Tooro Kingdom under King Oyo.
“DP will postpone its National Executive Committee meeting in order to honour King Oyo and to stand in solidarity with the people of Tooro and the rest of Uganda during this period of grief,” Mao said.
The party said its officials, led by Mao, will attend and represent the Democratic Party at the funeral of the late King.
The postponement comes as Uganda observes a period of mourning following the death of King Oyo, with national attention focused on funeral and burial arrangements for the Tooro monarch.
Gratefully, the Gerald Siranda faction members complied and agreed to call off the meeting in the interest of enabling the party to properly take part in King Oyo’s send-off at Karambi. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
