We shall Continue Working with NRM Government-Mao
The Democratic Party (DP) President, Nobert Mao, has, on behalf of the party, pledged that the party will continue working with the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party.
Mao, who also doubles as the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, made these remarks while addressing members of the press on July 30, 2024, at Balintuma Road in Mengo, Rubaga division in Kampala.
While responding to questions about whether the cooperation between NRM and DP has yielded any fruits, Mao said that as DP, they will continue to work with the NRM government as agreed in the cooperation agreement signed by Mao and other DP leaders with President Museveni.
“For the time being, we shall continue holding hands with the NRM; it will be difficult, but Ugandans will have to know we are doing this for the future of Ugandans,” Mao said.
However, Mao also took the opportunity to announce how he will be contesting for the presidency come 2026 on the DP ticket.
“At the delegates conference in September, I will offer myself for the party president, and you well know that the party president automatically becomes the party flag bearer, and this means that I will be running for the presidency of Uganda come 2026,” Mao added.
He further explained how DP has tabled different reforms and amendments and is still looking forward to them being considered for action.
Among the proposed amendments are free and fair elections, amendments to have electronic voting not just with finger prints but other biometric features, and having presiding officers wear cameras.
Mao added that in case the government says there’s no money, then there is a need to hold parliamentary, presidential, and district leaders on the same day but can have different colors for different ballot papers, and according to him, this will save the political parties’ money for polling agents and more campaigning days.
In July 2022, President Museveni signed a cooperation agreement with the DP leader, where they agreed on how the two parties would work together.
According to the agreement, Mao, as Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, will be the lead minister for coordinating the national dialogue and the whole of government response on constitutional reforms, with the mandate to coordinate budget proposals in the Justice Law and Order Sector.
Two years down the road, whether Mao, who is currently holding two posts, said he has achieved on some of the agreed key issues in the cooperation agreement, which is still ongoing till 2026.
