By Wafula Malik
There are clear indicators that a large section of DP bosses are up in arms against their President General Norbert Mao. And they are riding on his controversial participation in the Wednesday IPOD Summit meeting to make case and demonize him further. Besides the disgruntled Publicist Kenneth Kakande who denounced the IPOD Summit only to be humiliated by Mao’s participation, National Legal Advisor Sam Muyizi too has pronounced himself saying DP’s participation was betrayal to Ugandans who continue to be victims of the state brutality. Speaking on Dr. Sam Kazibwe’s talk show on 88.8 fm CBS radio Wednesday evening, Muyizi referred to Lukambuka (DP’s former Kasese MP Candidate) who continues to be missing after he was picked by suspected state agents. He said it pains him as a lawyer involved in securing Lukambuka’s freedom to see his party president taking photos with President Museveni whose government is responsible for what happened. Muyizi also accused Mao of acting unilaterally saying participation was his decision alone because there was no NEC meeting convened to sanction participation into a meeting the party publicist had earlier on been mandated to condemn as sham. This shouldn’t be very surprising to those familiar with DP because Muyizi belongs to the so-called Johnson Street faction that Mao remains very paranoid about; suspecting them of mischief to oust him from City House. It’s a larger group whose membership comprises of the likes of Deo Kijjambu, Vincent Mayanja, Moses Katabu, Brenda Nabukenya and others. Mao’s supporters have previously accused this group of plotting to ride on Bobi Wine’s wave to topple him from the DP top seat whose sweetness he still wants to enjoy.
MP MUWANGA HITS BELOW THE BELT;
But of all critics, Butambala County MP Muwanga Kivumbi caused largest damage. Speaking on the other CBS (89.2fm) that same Wednesday evening, Kivumbi alleged many things against Mao who says the likes of Muwanga are full of vendetta, bias and have never liked him. In his own missive, Mao has resorted to referring to his partnership with another group of DP renegades led by Sam Lubega whose reunion caravan he says he values very much. During the 2 hour show (1-9pm), the uncontradicted Kivumbi was allowed by moderator Med Nsereko to hit Mao below the belt. Kivumbi, who sources say has never forgiven Mao for banning the reunion caravan which he (Muwanga) led and had reaped big political capital from, referred to Mao as an agent for Museveni in the opposition. He illustrated his point by referring to circumstances under which National Chairman Mohammed Kezaala defected to NRM following a deal he personally negotiated during a similar IPOD meeting in Entebbe State House. Insisting IPOD meetings had become a death trap for DP, Muwanga said it was during similar IPOD meetings recently that the deal to offer Busia’s Deo Njoki being the UHRC job was discussed and concluded. “It’s unfortunate my own party leader is complicit in all these deals that have continued depriving our party of strong members,” said Muwanga who was speaking with unusual toughness and bitterness. “I want to know. I want to be told who exactly is my Party President working for? Who pays him for all these actions? How do you humiliate DP like that?” He said this in reference to the low profile members that comprised Mao’s delegation and each earned Shs500,000 at the end of the day besides the 5 star accommodation at Speke Resort Munyonyo. He made reference to Sanura Nakato (formerly a cleaner in Musisi’ KCCA) and a one Mama Deo who famously cooks and serves cheap tea and food at the veranda of DP headquarters. Saying she is a gun for hire, DP supporters have since agreed with Muwanga while reflecting on top party leaders who have suffered Mama Deo’s wrath including ex-SG Matia Nsubuga (RIP) on whom dirty water was poured at the height of his disagreements with Mama Deo. Some have since doubted if she can even write her name yet she was prominent among the 50 party members the Party President Mao went with to Munyonyo. Muwanga says he has a duty to condemn Mao for orchestrating so much mediocrity in DP. Muwanga also alleged that it was Mao who brokered the deal that saw Mukasa Mbidde get the NRM and Museveni’s support to become an EALA member which he said was preceded by a manipulative process sidelining other interested contenders (like Kenneth Kakande, JB Kakooza etc). Muwanga said the manner in which Mao banned the reunion caravan shows he doesn’t wish DP well. “The caravan had succeeded in creating momentum to revamp DP but he stopped it for his personal reasons,” said the Butambala MP whose differences with Mao date as far back as 2011 when he and others shunned him to form Suubi 2011 which backed KB. He also questioned why since Kezaala’s defection and Nsubuga’s death DP has never replaced its national chairman and SG. He said all this is deliberately done to weaken DP. He referred to the profile of SG Gerald Siranda whom he said isn’t good enough for the position “notwithstanding him being my good friend.”
ATTACKS JEEMA;
Kivumbi, who insisted the IPOD attendance was knowingly aimed at bolstering Museveni with the badly needed legitimacy, didn’t spare JEEMA/Justice Forum whose delegation he said was full of pick pockets (called them abasazi bensawo). He said whereas Mao can do all manner of treachery including attending such meetings and get away with it, in his case its different. Why? “I’m elected by the people of Butambala and I’m accountable to them unlike Mao who doesn’t have a constituency to hold him accountable. The same goes for my friends in JEEMA. They have only one elected leader and that’s my friend Asuman Basalirwa who is Party President and Bugiri MP. So they don’t have many people to account to,” he said prompting a strong response from JEEMA Publicist Abdunoor Kyamundu. All said and done, Mao supporters say the IPOD event only gave justification to the likes of Muwanga Kivumbi to explode and show their long held hatred against Mao who maintains they are using Mr. Wine to build countrywide momentum to eventually justify a coup against him as President General DP. For comments, call, text or whatsapp us on 0703164755.
