Mao retains DP party presidency

KAMPALA.
Norbert Mao has retained the Democratic Party’s (DP’s) presidency after he overwhelmingly beat his only challenger, in the race, Buikwe South MP Dr Lulume Bayiga following a three-day delegates’ conference which ended on Sunday at Katomi Kingdom Resort.

Mr Mao got 898 votes (71.2 per cent) while Dr Lulume got only 360 votes in a delegates’ conference shunned by a faction in DP led by Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago.
Mr Lukwago’s camp wanted the delegates meet to be postponed to pave way for major reforms and reconciliation in the party which the Mao-led faction objected to.
All attempts at reconciliation chaired by former DP Vice president Zachary Olum failed to yield any fruits prompting the two rival factions to hold parallel meetings, one in Luweero by Mr Lukwago and the other by Mr Mao at Katomi.
Voting was done per region starting with the North, West then East and finally the Central region.

Bukoto County East MP, Florence Namayanja, was voted as DP Women’s leader after she garnered 693 votes. Her competitors Maxenxia Nakibuka and Lina Zedriga got 395 and 202 votes respectively.
In a closely contested race, Ms Ritah Nakyanzi was elected as the DP secretary for youth with 522 votes beating Mr Elvis Kintu who got 410 votes.

In another hotly contested vote Mr Samuel Muyizzi was elected DP National Legal advisor with 780 votes beating his challenger Mr Jude Mbabaali who received only 487 votes.
With 546 votes, Mr Erasto Kibirango lost the DP deputy legal advisor slot to Mr David Lumu who garnered 705 votes.
By press time, the presiding officer was yet to announce the results of DP Secretary General and Publicity Secretary. However, current SG Mathias Nsubuga was in the lead and was expected to win.

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