Norbert Mao has been re-elected as the President General of the Democratic Party (DP), Uganda’s oldest political party, securing a commanding 969 votes at the party’s national delegates’ conference held at Asarma Country Resort in Ruti, Mbarara City.
The announcement, made by presiding officer Kennedy Mutenyo, marks Mao’s fourth consecutive term at the helm of the DP, a position he has held since 2010.
His challengers, Dr. Michael Lulume Bayigga and Alitia Eria, garnered 339 and 52 votes, respectively, out of the 1,360 votes cast.
The three-day conference, which concluded today, was a pivotal moment for the DP as it grapples with internal divisions and seeks to redefine its role in Uganda’s political landscape ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Mao’s victory, while decisive, comes amid ongoing tensions within the party, particularly over his controversial 2022 cooperation agreement with the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), which led to his appointment as Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
Critics, including former contender Bukoto Central MP Richard Sebamala, who was disqualified from the race during the pre-selection process, have accused Mao of aligning too closely with President Yoweri Museveni’s government, eroding the DP’s opposition credentials.
In his victory speech, Mao emphasized unity and discipline, drawing on his experience of supporting former DP leader Sebana Kizito after a 2005 leadership loss.
“It’s not about leadership but followership. To be a good leader, you must first be a good follower,” Mao said, urging party members to rally behind the DP’s vision of winning elections.
He pledged to field strong candidates across the country, stating, “A political party cannot win an election if there are no candidates. I want to put DP to power after 70 years.”
Dr. Lulume Bayigga, a former Buikwe South MP, positioned himself as a reformist, warning that the DP was “wailing and dying” under its current trajectory. He appealed to Sebamala’s supporters to back his vision for change.
Meanwhile, Alitia Eria called for the DP to reclaim its independence from political alliances, criticizing the party’s history of aligning with dominant players.
Despite their efforts, both candidates trailed far behind Mao, whose loyal base and strategic alliances within the party secured his dominance.
The conference was not without controversy. Allegations of electoral manipulation surfaced, with Sebamala’s camp accusing Mao of using tactics like expired membership cards and registering delegates from districts with minimal DP presence to tilt the vote in his favor.
These claims echo broader concerns about the DP’s internal democracy, with critics arguing that Mao’s leadership has centralized power and stifled new voices.
The party’s parliamentary representation has dwindled from 15 seats in 2016 to just six in 2025, with defections to the National Unity Platform (NUP) highlighting growing disillusionment.
Mao, a seasoned lawyer and politician, remains a polarizing figure. Supporters view his NRM alliance as a pragmatic move to keep the DP relevant in a political landscape dominated by Museveni’s regime, while detractors, including prominent DP members like Sebamala and Bayigga, argue it has compromised the party’s principles.
As the DP looks toward 2026, Mao’s re-election sets the stage for a critical period. Under the DP constitution, the party president automatically becomes its presidential candidate, meaning Mao may lead the party into the national elections unless he relinquishes his ministerial role.
Political analysts are watching closely to see if Mao can rebuild the DP’s grassroots base and restore its relevance, or if internal fractures will further erode its influence.
Mao’s victory signals continuity for the DP, but the road ahead remains fraught with challenges as the party navigates its identity and place in Uganda’s evolving political arena.