The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs who also doubles as the Democratic Party (DP) president general, Nobert Mao has claimed that the squabblers in the party are not interested in honest debate about any issue.
He stated that those who want to build a national party are facing those who for decades (even before he became DP President) are determined to reduce the party to a provincial party ,adding that they will not be distracted.
“We have to build a party which is national in character. Those who are bent on dividing the party along lines of parochial interests will be decisively confronted and defeated. In the same way the DP confronted and unmasked Kabaka Yekka in the 60s, our generation will fearlessly face and confront the descendants of Kabaka Yekka,” he said in a statement.
He said like wolves in sheep skin these retrogressive elements come under various guises but they will never be deceived in any way.
“The banner of truth and justice will never be surrendered into the hands of reactionary forces that seek to reduce the party to a small-minded outfit serving narrow interests as opposed to the founding ideals of the party, “he said.
Last week, a member of DP Lulume Bayigga raised a concern on the floor of parliament regarding the state of affairs in the party
According to Lulume Bayigga, following a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and DP which eventually led to the appointment of Mao as Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, ‘DP members are in a conundrum and there have been challenges regarding where to place DP members in the House’.
He claimed that because of the appointment, the activities of the party have been closed and some members including himself were arrested at their headquarters when they sought to know about the agreement.
He also insisted that the nine DP members of Parliament were not consulted and are not part of the agreement.
Some MPs from DP said that Mao should present before Parliament a copy of the agreement to enable the office of the Leader of Opposition to make a stand on DP members.
They called on Parliament to pronounce itself on whether DP MPs will be bound by an agreement made without their consent as far as voting is concerned.
However, the Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa who shared the plenary said that Parliament could not involve itself in DP’s internal Affairs guiding its members who are discontented to follow the party constitution to resolve their grievances.
Tayebwa also said that he had not received any complaint or concern from the DP Whip, Peter Okot regarding their sitting arrangement or even the agreement between NRM and DP.
Mao said he is always ready for a serious debate to ensure all these issues are resolved but some of these members are up to something ,adding that they will not be distracted for the main issue of making the party stronger.
