The Democratic Party president Norbert Mao admits that the party is in a deep crisis and that the key party organs will in the near future sit to resolve the challenges fueling the crisis
Mao points out that the party is currently embroiled in leadership squabbles coupled by its leaders joining the ruling party-the NRM but hastens to add that the foundation upon which the party was built remains strong. Mao tells Journalists at the party headquarters that the current situation is an opportunity for the party to re-emerge and that rather than starting to panick, party members should remain strong and focused

"We are in a conundrum, a defining moment and the solution is not simple or apparent, but the Chinese say that a crisis can be a danger but also an opportunity and surely we can find the solution to the problems and this is the opportunity" He pointed out

Mao also revealed that the top party leaders labored in vain to convince Mohamed Kezaala who has been the national party chairman to turn down the ambassadorial appointment. Kezaala was appointed last week as a deputy ambassador by President Yoweri Museveni something that caused great concern among DP members. Mao says that after a meeting, they agreed that he should quit as party chairman and Dr Kiwanuka Mayambala who has been his deputy should assume the office

"We urged him not to accept the position but he said he had made the decision and that he considered the job as a civil service position, with a lot of pain we accept his resignation and Dr Mayambala will assume his duties" Mao said

Reconciliation and rebuilding the party

The Democratic Party president Norbert Mao appeals to all those who left the party and those who are still members but inactive to return to the party fold saying that it’s time to reconcile and rebuild the party. Mao notes that the party remains popular but the disagreements and internal squabbles that have rocked it have pushed some people away and that its time for them to return back to the fold

Mao also welcomes what he calls a good gesture from the Lord Mayor of Kampala Erias Lukwago who called for reconciliation and a stakeholders meeting to resolve the challenges in the party. Lukwago is among DP life members who preferred not to contest under the banner of the party after failing out with the current leadership. Mao is however challenging him to show commitment. Lukwago challenged Mao to reach out to his group, elders and other opinion leaders so that they can salvage the party. Mao says that this is good advice but challenges Lukwago to make an effort to show his commitment

"We welcome the good gesture from the Lord mayor but the distance between city hall and city house is very short let him walk the talk because this is not the first he has suggested such"

Looming danger from Museveni

The Democratic Party president Norbert Mao warns opposition parties to be wary of efforts by President Yoweri Museveni to weaken them by compromising party leaders to join the NRM. Mao says that president Museveni has begun implementing his threat made shortly after winning the 2016 presidential elections to destroy the entire opposition before the 2021 general elections. He says that the plan has already been urged and that if the opposition leaders are not steadfast, the opposition parties will collapse

EALA Elections and the Mbidde saga

On the controversies about EALA elections, the Democratic Party has resolved to hold to open up nominations for those seeking to contest for the East African Legislative Assembly re-tracking from an earlier decision that its vice president Fred Mukasa Mbidde should retain the ticket. The party president Norbert Mao says that the decision follows numerous complaints about the earlier position. He says those aspiring should appear before the party National Executive Committee this Friday for vetting