DP probes Masaka mayhem
Welcome. Youth usher in East African Community Legislative Assembly representative Fred Mukasa Mbidde at the DP function in Masaka last week. PHOTO BY IVAN KIBOWA.
Kampala. The Democratic Party (DP) president, Mr Norbert Mao, has ordered an inquiry into the fracas in Masaka Town during the party’s now-suspended re-union event last weekend.
The investigations, he noted, will help establish the cause of the mayhem that cast a gloom over unity in a party roaring from weeks of togetherness following the May 23 grand public reconciliation meeting between different factions at an event at Makerere University.
To popularise the re-union, DP officials began traversing the country from northern Uganda to woo back dissidents and the roller-coaster engagements ran into trouble in Masaka last weekend when irate members and fans hurled stones, bottles and insults at officials.
Some of the members heckled leaders, including DP’s former president Paul Ssemogerere and ex-Uganda Peoples Congress president Olara Otunnu. They also aimed flying objects at East African Community Legislative Assembly representative Fred Mukasa Mbidde.
The unexpected incident prompted Mr Mao, who apologised to Ugandans, to suspend the nationwide tour named “re-union caravan”.
“The re-union caravan shall resume in due course, but in the meantime, let us await the outcome of the fact-findings and inquiry,” he said in a press briefing on Tuesday.
Greater Masaka is the heartland of DP and has the highest number of MPs elected on the party ticket.
“We shall restructure the organisation and management of reunion events with a view to making them more inclusive and accountable,” Mr Mao added.
Timeline
2010.
DP members elect Norbert Mao party president, replacing John Ssebaana Kizito (RIP).
2011.
A section of DP supporters in central region break away to form Suubi as a pressure group.
2015.
Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago spearheads another splinter group named the Truth and Justice Platform. Some members defect back to the mainstream party.
July 2015.
Mao defeats Lulume Bayiga to win a second term. Starts campaign to reconcile polarised members.
July 2018.
United groups begin joint countrywide tour in greater Mukono, Gulu and Masaka.
