Africa-Press – Uganda. Security forces on Sunday heavily deployed at the ongoing 12th Democratic Party (DP) Delegates Conference at Asamar Country Hotel in Mbarara City, as tensions flared over the disputed appointment of a presiding officer for the voting process.
Soldiers were seen forcibly removing delegates from the main tent after they began nominating their own committee to oversee the electoral exercise.
This move followed their rejection of former DP Electoral Commission chairperson Kennedy Mutenyo, who had been appointed to preside over the vote.
In defiance, district leaders elected Henry Ssempebwa Kigonya, the DP chairperson for Buikwe District, to steer the process instead.
However, security personnel from the Police Counter-Terrorism Unit intervened, dispersing all participants and temporarily halting proceedings.
They then began a verification and clearance exercise for delegates, despite resistance from those present.
The National Executive Committee (NEC), which had been dissolved in the early hours of Sunday morning, is now stripped of authority, leaving the party without formal leadership during the election.
With the NEC no longer in charge, Mutenyo remains the only figure officially recognised to preside over the conference, according to party insiders aligned with the decision.
But his appointment has drawn sharp criticism. Richard sebamala, one of the candidates who says he was illegally removed from the race, challenged the legality of Mutenyo’s role.
“Constitutionally, the presiding officer is supposed to be elected by the delegates and not appointed by whoever wishes. The former executive members are now ordinary members and have no authority to make any decisions in that regard,” Sebamala told on Sunday morning.
As the day progressed, the fate of the conference remained unclear, with sections of the party deeply divided over the legitimacy of the voting process.
For More News And Analysis About Uganda Follow Africa-Press
