DP leaders in Masaka reject party’s election plan

A section of the Democratic Party (DP) leaders in Masaka District have rejected the party’s roadmap that seeks to elect leaders of the party's various structures across the country.

On Monday, the DP national vice president, Mr Fred Mukasa Mbidde, who is also the party leader in the district, announced the road map.
According to Mr Mbidde, the programme that starts on January 30, with the election of the party village councils members will culminate in the election of National Council members.
On Tuesday, however, Masaka DP Elder's Council backed by several constituency and sub-county leaders, during a crisis meeting in Masaka town, unanimously rejected the programme, citing the suspicious compilation of the party register and an irregular polling process.

Mr Bone Stephen Kasujja, the Masaka Municipality DP chairperson, says they have petitioned the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and demanded the suspension of the programme until a “clean” clear register is obtained to ensure a transparent election process.

He said that the compilation of the register fell short of the principles of transparency and is only intended to fulfill the selfish interests of a few people, who are scheming for political positions as opposed to strengthening the party.

Mr Kasujja said that party leaders in Masaka are attempting to hijack the party election processes by appointing biased presiding officers which violates the party constitution.

Mr John Baptist Ddungu, the party secretary in the district accused Mr Mbidde of fusing the party organs with the leadership structures of his charity organisation, Mbidde Foundation, to run the party affairs.

Mr Francis Kimuli, the Bukoto East DP Organising secretary, has threatened to mobilise party members to boycott the planned election should the party’s National Executive Committee fail to intervene and resolve the underlying inconsistencies.
However, Mr Mbidde said the petitioners are misguided.

He said that the elections will take place according to a roadmap which was approved by the party’s top organ.
The Masaka branch has joined their colleagues in Makindye-Ssabagabo Municipality, Mukono and Wakiso districts, who have reject the composition of the party register.