By Aggrey Baba
Earlier this week, violence erupted at the Democratic Party (DP) headquarters on Balintuma Road leaving senior party officials injured and the police scrambling to restore order, just days before the party’s much-anticipated national delegates conference taking place today, in Mbarara.
The Tuesday scuffle, which broke out during a press conference meant to brief members on the upcoming elections, turned into a full-blown melee reportedly sparked by supporters of Bukoto Central MP Richard Sebamala.
Amid the chaos, Kennedy Mutenyo, Chairperson of the DP Elections Management Committee, was violently attacked and is now being treated for a dislocated elbow. The party’s administrator, Agrippa Byayesu, was reportedly strangled during the fracas and is also undergoing medical care.
The police have since launched a full investigation, aided by video footage from journalists and officials on site. Several suspects have been identified, including notable party figures, like Grace Asiimwe (Bunyoro Regional Representative), Sammy Gilbert (Eastern Regional Vice President), and Annet Nakyanja (DP Women’s League Secretary and sister to former Youth Minister Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi).
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango confirmed that arrests are imminent. “We are reviewing the footage and will bring those responsible to justice,” he said.
But as the dust begins to settle, deeper questions about the party’s internal wrangles, and external interference, are taking center stage. Speaking in the aftermath of the violence, DP President Norbert Mao pointed the finger squarely at powerful figures within the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), accusing them of bankrolling chaos within his party (DP) to bring him down.
“This was not just an outburst by frustrated supporters. It is a coordinated, well-funded effort to destroy me politically,” Mao said. “Hon. Sebamala is being used by some big names in the NRM to make me hated by party delegates so I lose control of the DP. But they are chasing shadows.”
Mao, who also serves as Uganda’s Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs under the NRM government, alleged that his rising profile and strategic position have made some people within the ruling party nervous, especially as the country inches closer to what many see as a looming political transition.
“They’re jealous and scared, “ Mao said, adding that those fighting him know change is knocking, and his name stands out. So they want to clip his wings before the bell tolls. This brings to life an old African proverb that when the roots of a tree begin to decay, it spreads death to the branches.
“They’re trying to rot the DP from within, but I am not a man easily shaken,” he added.
The violence follows the recent disqualification of Richard Sebamala from contesting for the DP presidency, where the party’s electoral commission cited his failure to meet the constitutional requirement of ten years of active party membership.
His supporters, some of whom were allegedly involved in Tuesday’s clashes, are said to have heavily invested in mobilizing support and reportedly attempted to sway delegates with cash incentives.
Similarly, Charles Zziwa was disqualified from the National Vice President race over insufficient academic qualifications and failure to meet the same membership threshold.
While over 31 other candidates have been declared unopposed, including Fred Mukasa Mbidde for National Vice President, the disqualified camps have rejected the process as biased and exclusionary.
Despite the turbulence, DP says it is moving forward with its national delegates conference, slated for May 29 to 31 at Asamar Country Resort in Ruti, Mbarara City, expected to draw hundreds of delegates from across the country and will feature elections for several top positions.
The Electoral Committee has assured members that tight security will be in place to prevent a repeat of the chaos seen in Kampala. Police presence is expected to be significant.
DP Secretary General Gerald Siranda urged calm and unity, emphasizing that the party “must emerge stronger” from the current turmoil. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
