Mao, Lukwago clash as meet flops
L-R (front row): DP members Henry Ssewanyana, Zachary Olum, Erias Lukwago and Richard Sebuliba Mutumba leave Pope Paul Memorial Centre in Kampala yesterday after the party meeting failed to take place. PHOTO BY ABUBAKER LUBOWA
What you need to know:
Non starter. The meeting had been called to reconcile party president Norbert Mao and a faction led by Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago.
Kampala. A meeting called yesterday to reconcile the warring parties in the Democratic Party (DP) failed to take off after a faction led by party president Norbert Mao did not turn up.
Instead, Mr Mao used DP’s weekly press conference to attack Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, whom he called a comedian planning to destroy the party.
With the party hosting its delegates conference on Friday, the rivalry between the two leaders threatens to drag the country’s oldest political party back to 2010 when Mr Mao faced strong opposition from leading party members in Buganda.
Mr Zachary Olum, a party elder who was supposed to chair the meeting, explained that the International Republican Institute, (IRI), which was funding the meeting, postponed it to today to allow all concerned members to attend.
The apology
“We apologise on behalf of the organisers of this meeting, we shall do everything possible to see that this meeting takes place,” Mr Olum said.
Some of the leaders who had turned up for the meeting include DP presidential aspirant Lulume Bayiga, former presidential candidate Samuel Walter Lubega, DP vice president for Buganda region Richard Sebuliba Mutumba and a host of other MPs.
Mr Lukwago expressed frustration at how events were playing out but said it was important that reconciliation be given a chance.
“We are frustrated by how the whole thing is being conducted but we want to give our colleagues the benefit of the doubt. We want to give this process a chance to see that the differences are resolved amicably,” said Mr Lukwago, who was flanked by Mr Lubega and Mr Lulume.
On Monday, the Lord Mayor accused the current DP leadership of failing to introduce constitutional reforms, warning that this could consign the party to the “dustbin of history”.
However, Mr Mao said DP under his leadership cannot talk to what is now known as the Anti- Mbale group who opposed his election in 2010.
“Mr Lukwago seems to be a man who gets excited thinking that if he has many crowds, he has power. I feel pity for him because is beginning to behave like dikuula (comedian) yet he is a young man with potential.”
He added that the Lord Mayor should not think that informal gatherings at hotels can make any binding resolution. Only party organs can come up with any resolution concerning the party, Mr Mao said.
He insisted that the delegates’ conference will not be postponed. “The delegates will start arriving today (Wednesday) and we expect 1,723 delegates. We must move forward with those who agree with the current leadership.”
The DP leader added that the first business at the conference will be constitutional amendments.
