By George Bukenya
Chaos flared at the Democratic Party headquarters along Balintima road in Kampala in the Afternoon of Wednesday as the party president Norbert Mao was about to arrive to address a press conference.
Police was called up to restore order as angry mob forced themselves into DP offices as they realised Mao was about to come at the office.
This delayed the 2:00 PM planned press briefing because the office administrators had asked Mao to delay his arrival as they were waiting for the situation to normalize and he finally arrived at a some minutes pass 5 o’clock.
He blamed the hooliganism on other political parties who don’t have members whom he said are funding such hooliganism activities to disorganize DP. He also revealed that there is some element in the ruling NRM party who don’t want him to be a minister and they are fighting him using any means.
Mao also said that Bukoto Central legislator Eng. Richard Sebamala who is eying the position of president for DP is ineligible to vy for the top seat as per the party’s constitution because he hasn’t been a member for a minimum of 10 years.
“We are in a lot of turbulence; nobody can sell or hijack the party leadership. You don’t become a leader through violence means, this is unacceptable,’’ Mao charged.
“The Party constitution is clear and in black and white about the qualification and we can’t bend the law because of one person he should be patience enough because DP will not end today it’s here to stay.’’ He further said.
The minister for Constitution Affairs also gave a reference on the past scenarios were he said that in 1980 President Museveni wanted to contest for the position of Secretary General but was unable due to lack of qualification even the formal EALA MP his current vice in Mbale he also wanted to contest for the position of vice president but was barred by the constitution.
Meeting with Gen. Saleh in Gulu.
Mao also narrated to reporters as to why he organized a group of people to meet Gen. Saleh Akandwanaho saying it wasn’t a crime to meet him because he is the coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation (OWC).
He said that DP members asked him to cause a meeting with the Gen. because he is the chief of OWC and they wanted also to have a share on that through seedlings, tractors.
“ I gathered some 300 members of DP at my Gulu residence but not delegates because they where yeaning to meet the chief of OWC to ask him for the agricultural support inform of farm implements. It was basically an economic meeting,’’ He said.
He further said ,“ Gen Sale is my long time friend since 1996 when I contested for the parliamentary seat in Gulu he saved me from losing my victory because there was his fellow bush was solder who was trying to rig the voted but when I called him he intervened and I won the election,’’
Mao also said that the bush war Gen believes that DP has credibility to rule due to its passed history because leaders in the leaders in the first government after the bush war came from DP. He mentioned the late John Ssebaana Kizito, Dr. Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere, Robert Kitaliko and Sam Kuteesa.