Nambooze and her ‘Make DP Great Again’ campaign; The way forward

By Beatrice Friday

DP Buganda Region Vice President Nambooze Betty Bakireke this year started a campaign dubbed “MAKE DP GREAT AGAIN” premised on the demand for reforms in the Democratic Party. On 31st March She organized a Buganda regional delegates conference at Nsambya which DP Executive used police to brutally disperse. DP NEC seating on Friday 20th April 2017 suspended her from the party for 3months.

The Spear political desk today delves into where this development leaves Uganda’s oldest political  party, Nambooze the person and the way-forward for the entire reform campaign
The latest developments in the party indicate that its continuity and progress is at stake. The following outline makes the “Make DP Great Again” campaign and pursuance for party reforms a timely necessity.
In Western and Northern Uganda DP there has no conventional party activities going on. In the recent party elections in Aruu county DP candidate got only 400 votes in spite of party president Mao’s face appearing on the candidate’s poster and personally camping in the region.
In the by-election for Moroto Woman MP, the NRM candidate sailed through unopposed as no opposition party fielded a candidate to contest in the region.
Currently, the party has no solid leadership in Jinja district following the resignation of the biggest DP politician in Eastern region and its party chairman Kezaala who resigned to take a diplomatic job. Mutembuli the would be regional president in that area fears to publicly associate with DP and during the 2016 elections he stood as an independent.
During Katoomi Delegates Conference elections, Kezaala stood against Mao and had higher chances of becoming the party president had it not been for intervention of party leaders who convinced him to stand down for Mao. It is said Mao never forgave him and the ensuing hostility  frustrated him into leaving the party
The resignation of Kezaala, who had moved through all party leadership stages and groomed many spelt doom for DP especially in Eastern region. It is worth noting that his resignation obviously had many others leave the party.
Now, Nambooze, another senior party member who has been groomed through party leadership structures has been suspended too, where does this leave DP in Uganda politics?
DP is renown for frustrating by suspension leaders fit to the challenge the current establishment. Erias Lukwago, Ssebuliba Mutumba, Lubega Mukaaku, Derick Mutema, Kato Lubwama and Kasibante Moses among others have been frustrated by the party leadership. Some of these have since quit politics and others have formed parties, fora and pressure groups to pursue their political ideology.
What next for Nambooze and the already launched Reform campaign?
Just by its timing, this campaign is a success for the party. Unlike before when such calls were made days to elections this time its 4years away. The inner disagreements must be settled.
This campaign will leave party members united by a cause rather than authority from the headquarters. The campaign has so appealed to DP members and gained momentum to a level that this campaign can go on even without Nambooze.
Mbidde and Mao’s acts epitomized by crucifixion of Nambooze loudly communicated to party members the need for the party reforms she preaches upon which Delegates from Luweero, Masaka, Bukomansimbi, Jinja, Gulu among others have declared full support and organized meetings in support of the campaign
It can be rightly predicted that Mao and Mbidde will continue loosing credibility among DP supporters. Being NRM allies, they will continue deploy police against party members in guise of disciplining Nambooze. Using the usual NRM strategy Mao will continue suspension threats and instituting committees whose reports Mao doesn’t respect to buy time and extend the Delegates Conference.
Nambooze given the momentum started has three options.
Given her courage, she is likely to push on with this battle to the end. Being outside the party she stands chance to now openly declare and campaign as party president which is a discussion for another day.
The unlikely options are to join other political parties, going independent or giving up as other frustrated politicians.