ANALYSIS: Mao’s DP test

Under Mao, he says, the party has issued 5 million party cards, increased the number of legislators from 12 in 2011 to 15 in 2016 and concluded plans of groundbreaking the construction of a five storied $2.5 billion party headquarters in Lubaga.

He said the party is currently conducting an audit and will at the end address the current challenges. Siranda also said they are attracting new people to replace the members that are leaving.

“Our plan is to have all 18 million Ugandan eligible voters becoming members and supporters of DP by 2021,” he said.

DP elder Zachary Olum, who joined DP in 1962 says crossing from one party to another is not a new thing and that all political parties should be prepared for it.

“It is someone’s political right to cross from one party to another,” he told The Independent. The problem is that small parties will always fall victim of losing members to bigger, richer parties because bigger parties can offer jobs and other goodies.”

It is not the numbers that matter, he noted, it is what you preach to the people that changes things. “People will leave DP but those few that will remain will continue to expose government and the people will listen and act at the right time,” he said.

Amidst all this, Mao’s supporters hope to make another attempt to win political positions; especially that of president.

The last time the party tried was in 2011 when Mao lost with 1.86% of the vote. His predecessor, John Ssebana Kizito got only 1.59% of the vote in 2006 down from 23.6% that Semwogerere got in 1996.

According to Makerere political scientist, Prof. Sabiti Makara, DP must strengthen their ideology that unites them, hold transparent and fair elections and should encourage leaders to serve for specific terms and leave for new ones to lead the party. He also said that the party leadership should listen to its youth members and address their concerns because they would be the future leaders of the party.

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editor@independent.co.ug