By Spy Uganda
Kampala-A major political shift is underway within Uganda’s oldest political party, the Democratic Party (DP), following growing dissatisfaction among its members over the cooperation agreement signed with the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) government, led by President Yoweri Museveni. Office Of The National Vice President
The deal, which was championed by DP President Hon. Norbert Mao a few years ago, has long stirred controversy within party ranks. Critics have accused it of sidelining the party’s core values in favor of political expediency. Now, those frustrations appear to have reached a boiling point.
In a strongly worded letter dated April 7, 2025, the DP’s National Vice President, Hon. Dr. Fred Mukasa Mbidde, officially notified Mao of a planned withdrawal from the agreement. The letter follows a decisive resolution passed during the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Council meetings held at Soroti Hotel.
“I proposed a significant motion to initiate the process of terminating our cooperation agreement with the National Resistance Movement,” wrote Mbidde. “This motion is set to formally commence today, April 7, 2025, following the conclusion of the one-month assessment period.”
According to the letter, the party has now outlined a detailed road map to extricate itself from the pact. This includes issuing a “Notice to Show Cause” to the NRM, launching nationwide termination rallies, and unveiling a National Organizing Network to coordinate the effort. Additionally, a national campaign—with its own name, slogan, and promotional materials—is expected to kick off soon.
Many DP stalwarts believe the agreement has done little to advance the party’s influence or its political agenda. “It simply hasn’t worked,” one senior party source told this reporter, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Instead, it has alienated our base and blurred our identity.”
The move to exit the agreement appears to be aimed at reclaiming the party’s independence ahead of the next election cycle. Political analysts say this could mark a major realignment in Uganda’s opposition landscape.
Efforts to reach President Mao for comment were unsuccessful by press time.
The political terrain is now bracing for what could be a dramatic and defining chapter for DP—and possibly for Uganda’s multiparty democracy. Whether Mao will resist or support the party’s new direction remains to be seen. Watch the space….
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