Mao dons UPDF Military Uniform as he meets Kaihura in Gulu

Mao dons UPDF Military Uniform as he meets Kaihura in Gulu

Embattled Democratic Party President Norbert Mao has appeared in Gulu district dressed in a UPDF military attire, an unprecedented act in the history of opposition party politics in Uganda.

Mao whose party members are accusing him of selling their oldest political party to NRM and fighting party activities in favor of Museveni, addressed a press conference in Gulu town Donning a military uniform bearing an inscription of his name “Mao”, black gumboots and a military cap.

His acting secretary general Siranda Blacks escorted him.

This dressing culture is typical of military dictators who whenever want to send fear among

citizens deploy military or put on such attire to send fears among people.

This is the fourth act that prove Mao-NRM marriage which DP members oppose. The first was imposing Siranda Bracks to the party as  SG by decree after death of Nsubuga. The second was unleashing police terror on DP members in Kampala, Masaka and Luweero in which one member Vicent Kigundu died. The third was suspending Buganda region president for doing her party duties.

Talking about the Uniform Mao said the army formally assigned him the uniform from National Leadership Institute Kyankwanzi when he undertook a military training course in line with the provisions of Article 17 of the Constitution in a year he didn’t mention.

Kyankwanzi is a renown centre for political indoctrination to NRM cadres who are routinely taken there for a propaganda course at the end of which attendants come out indoctrinated to Museveni the person and NRM as a party.

Democratic Party members who since March have faced police brutality and torture on Mao’s orders have reacted negatively to the army attire gesture which they have described as a direct sign of the NRM marriage party members have been fighting.

“This further proves him an NRM mole working for Museveni to Kill DP and the entire opposition” Said Nakigudde Milly Mukono district Speaker a DP member.

While Speaking to press Norbert Mao implied to the public that Museveni’s police, army and other security organs have failed their duties so he is set to recruit his paramilitary force called Citizens’ Self Defence Patrol (CSDP) to counter insecurity in Gulu.

Mao’s statement came just hours after General Kale Kayihura, the Inspector General of Police arrived in Gulu over the same issue. Speaking this afternoon, Kayihura urged residents to have confidence in the Police before they resort to desperate measures to protect themselves.

While Mao invokes Article 17, however, the Constitution makes no explicit provision for the use of militias. In fact Article 208 (4) prohibits individuals from raising an armed force except in accordance with this Constitution.

Security has not yet reacted to Mao’s threats. However, Santos Okot Lapolo, Gulu resident district commissioner told to devise means of cooperating with security to curb down the menace of the hit-men.