The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
DP shall not die
I have written this article purposely to tell all the people of Uganda from top to bottom that the Democratic Party DP shall never die. It will live for ever and ever. It is like the waters of River Nile. The Democratic Party was founded on October 6, 1954 at Rubaga and it stands on the strongest foundation and pillars of the Catholic church.
It is the Democratic Party which has been fighting for real democracy in this country and the multi-party system which was revived in 2005 and it is now fully entrenched in the Uganda Constitution.
Because the Democratic Party fought for democracy and the multi-party system, Ugandans are now democratically represented in the national parliament.
The DP was founded by eight young revolutionary Catholics to fight for Uganda’s Independence and National Unity. These were the products of the famous Catholic Schools: Namilyango College, St. Mary’s College Kisubi, St. Henry’s College Kitovu, and St. Peter Secondary School Nsambya.
These were Joseph Kasolo, who was the founding President General, Joseph Kasule, who was the founding Secretary General, S.B. Kibuuka, P. Nsubuga, A.B Serubiri, L.M. Tyaba, M. Kiddu and Alfonse Ntale.
The Party’s colours are White and Green. The Green colour was placed in the middle of Uganda’s National Flag at the time of Independence symbolising Peace, Truth and Justice. The Green colour means Uganda a Green Country.
A proposal will soon be tabled in Parliament by some DP Members of Parliament that the Green colour should be at the bottom of the Uganda Flag to symbolize that Uganda is a Green Country and the Pearl of Africa.
Besides Uganda National Congress which was founded on March 2,1952 at the Kabaka’s Lake at Mengo, the Democratic Party is the Mother of Politics in Uganda and it is a training ground of the present day politicians.
DP is like schools such as Namilyango College, King’s College Buddo, Gayaza High School, St. Mary’s College Kisubi and others, which produce Ugandans dedicated to service. You don’t say those colleges will collapse when some students leave. They do not collapse. Instead they continue producing more educated people. So is the Democratic Party which continues producing committed politicians for the country.
Many people who are running the NRM Government today, started their politics in the Democratic Party and one of them is the current Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Matia Kasaija. There are also others like Dr. Kisamba Mugerwa of Bulemeezi, Mrs. Sarah Nkonge Muwonge, former Vice President Dr. Speciaoza Wandira Kazibwe, and Mrs Maria Mutagamba former Minister for Tourism.
When I was in Nairobi during the 1996 General Elections and Mutagamba was the Secretary for Elections at the DP Headquarters, I communicated with her daily to make sure that DP wins the elections in the Acholi Region and it did.
The current Politics today where President Museveni picks somebody from the Democratic Party and appoints him/ her a Minister or an ambassador is a normal thing and depends on how principled the person being appointed is. It answers the old question – What is politics? The correct the answer is: Politics means sharing power and money.
However, two schools of thoughts have emerged about Museveni’s appointment of opposition politicians. There are those who are opposed to it saying Museveni’s plan is to weaken the opposition. Then there are those who are support it saying it is good to have many Baganda as ministers in the NRM government in preparation for 2021 when the President will be a Muganda either form NRM or from the opposition.
President Museveni, after realising the way Ugandan politics is going and realising what could happen 2021, is now making a broad-based government. This is different from a government of National Unity or a Coalition Government, both of which require negotiations with the party or parties in opposition before forming such a government.
That way you have to agree, first on how you share the ministries in the Government which you form. Currently, I cannot see President Museveni sharing power with Dr. Kizza Besigye to form that kind of government. That would be like a lion and a buffalo sharing a birthday cake.
