The President General of the Democratic party Nobert Mao has called for a crisis meeting following massive defections from Uganda’s oldest party to the ruling National Resistance Movement.
Mr Mao who appeared worried as he addressed the media on Tuesday at the party offices in Kampala observed that the resignation of the party national chairman, Mr Muhammad Baswale Kezaala was a big blow to the party which has never led this country despite being the oldest.
Mr Kezaala was forced to resign his DP position when President Museveni gave him an irresistible ambassador job.
Sources say that President Museveni was aware of Mr Kezaala’s financial situation which made him lure the former DP man with a job.
Familiar sources indicate that Mr Kezaala had bank loans and debts from money lenders and that he could not resist Musevni’s job yet he was not earning anything in DP.
Mr Mao noted that preparations to hold a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to address increasing defections of its members are ongoing.
Reacting to Mr Kezaala’s resignation, Mr Mao said he couldn’t do anything about since it was Kezaala’s choice.
“We accept Mr Kezaala’s resignation with deep regret but it is his choice,” said the eloquent Mao.
He added that, on top of defections, the party is going through a tough moment which calls for an emergency NEC meeting although he didnt set the date.
Also read: ‘I needed Museveni job’, Baswale Kezaala steps down as DP national chairman
“There is a crisis of confidence in the party. There are those who think that the party can no longer help them to fulfill their personal ambitions and national destiny of restoring democracy,” Mr Mao said.
Mr Mao said that the party will set standards for members to be able to identify with it.
“What will come out of DP during the NEC meeting at this moment of pressure is what the DP is made of. Every individual of DP will reveal who they are and what they are made of individually, ”Mr Mao said.
“We will reveal what a Democratic Party supporter stands for and where the party is going,” Mr Mao said.
While taking Museveni’s job, Mr Kezaala wrote a letter to his former party members, assuring them that he had moved on.
“This being a civil service job which naturally should not require being partisan and given the fact that I may not be available all the time to serve my party effectively as the National Chairman, I thought it fit that I tender in my resignation,” he wrote.
Also read: DP chairman Kezaala ‘sold out party’ to get Museveni’s ambassador job
This is not the first time Mr Museveni is catching some big fish from the Democratic Party and other opposition parties in the country. It should be remembered that after last year’s elections, President Museveni appointed Ms Nakiwala Kiyingi as Youth and Children Affairs minister.
Ms Kiyingi then representing DP had just lost the contest for the Kampala Woman MP seat to Forum for Democratic Change candidate Nabillah Naggayi.
These appointments have definately thrown the country’s oldest political organisation into murky waters with some observers saying the party has over the years been a political kindergarten where politicians use it as a ladder before they are absorbed into various ruling parties.
More defections
Just on Monday, Ms Stella Kiryowa, another DP member, picked nomination forms to contest for the East African Legislative Assembly seat on the NRM ticket meaning that she has also turned her back on the party.
Meanwhile, Mr Mao has announced that Mr Kiwanuka Mayambala who has been the Kezaala’s vice will take charge of the office of the national chairman DP.
“Mr Mayambala will perform the duties of that office and assume those duties with immediate effect,” Mr Mao said.
Museveni antics
Observers say that President Museveni is a smart politician who knows how to weaken his opponents by winning them to his side with job offers and money.
The list of those Museveni has won over to the NRM is long but the notable ones include, former FDC and Uganda Federal Alliance strong lady Beti Kamya, Mr Jimmy Akena who declared support for Mr Museveni in the 2016 general elections, former FDC legislator Christopher Kibanzanga who is also a brother to Rwenzururu King Charles Wesley Mumbere among others.
