Africa-Press – Uganda. Fred Mukasa Mbidde, the Democratic Party (DP) vice president, has warned against what he termed “guesswork leadership,” urging delegates to prioritise experience, loyalty, and deliberate strategy in the party’s internal elections.
His remarks came during the opening of DP’s 12th National Delegates Conference in Mbarara City, where the party is set to elect its President General and chart a new course ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Mbidde, a former Member of the East African Legislative Assembly, took aim at candidates he said lacked a consistent presence in party affairs.
“There are those who have operated outside the realm of the party for five years, and in the fifth year, they expect to be voted for. These won’t be given a chance by delegates to destroy the party we have held so vividly,” he said.
Without naming his targets, Mbidde’s message clearly underscored tensions between party veterans and returnees seeking leadership roles.
He repeatedly rallied behind incumbent President General Norbert Mao, who is seeking a fourth term, describing him as the only capable steward for the DP during what he called turbulent political times.
“We still feel that Norbert Mao can steer this docket better than anybody else operating under guesswork,” Mbidde said.
“Others are operating on account of guesswork. They’re all candidates, and that’s the function of democracy—but deliberate leadership must prevail.”
He cautioned that the official campaign period had ended, warning that any further canvassing by candidates would amount to illegal campaigning.
“Any further campaign will amount to campaigning on a ballot box, which we will not do because it is an illegality,” Mbidde stated, adding that delegates had already been sufficiently engaged.
Despite internal disagreements and visible power struggles, Mbidde maintained that the DP remains a vibrant political force.
“It’s still solid even within the challenges,” he said, insisting that the party’s foundation was intact and that its value remained visible across the political landscape.
The three-day delegates’ conference, being held under the theme “Advancing Constructive Engagement:
The New Alternative for Uganda,” is the first of its kind to take place in Mbarara City—a move seen as part of a broader effort to extend the party’s reach beyond its traditional Central Region strongholds.
The event has drawn over 1,400 delegates, surpassing expectations and signalling a high-stakes showdown between Mao and his challengers, including Buikwe South MP Dr Michael Lulume Bayigga and Masaka Municipality’s Richard Ssebamala.
DP Secretary General Gerald Siranda Blacks, speaking earlier at the conference, acknowledged logistical and organisational hiccups but stressed the broader purpose of the gathering.
“Despite the hiccups, the importance of the conference lies in rejuvenating the party’s grassroots engagement and promoting political dialogue over extremism,” he said.
Siranda emphasised that the delegates’ conference offered an opportunity for internal reflection and strategic repositioning as the party eyes a stronger presence in the 2026 general elections.
While the race remains competitive, Mbidde’s appeal is expected to sway a significant section of the voting delegates.
His assertion that DP leadership must be rooted in institutional memory and not short-term ambition reflects a growing concern within the party’s ranks about ideological coherence and political direction.
For now, the mood in Mbarara is one of cautious anticipation.
As voting nears, the outcome will not only determine who leads the DP but may also shape its identity and influence in a fast-changing political arena dominated by alliances, defections, and rising disillusionment with traditional opposition politics.
What remains clear is that Mbidde, like other loyalists rallying behind Mao, is determined to define this election not merely as a leadership contest—but as a battle for the soul of Uganda’s oldest political party.
Source: Nilepost News
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