In 1964, the Democratic Party (DP) was founded with a bold and noble mission: to seize power in order to amplify the voices of the marginalized. It was a movement grounded in justice, dignity, and an unwavering belief in building a democratic Uganda.
Visionaries like Eng. Joseph Kasolo, the party’s founder alongside Matayo Mugwanya, Benedicto Kiwanuka, Paulo Kawanga Ssemwogerere, and Ssebaana Kizito, held firm to the belief that one day, DP would lead the nation.
Each of these past presidents bore the heavy responsibility of keeping that dream alive. They steered the party through storms of dictatorship, political oppression, and shifting political landscapes. Yet today, that promise is under siege, not by external forces, but from within.
It is deeply disheartening for many loyal party members and supporters to witness the current leadership, under President Norbert Mao, grow increasingly aligned with the ruling NRM government.
His introduction to President Museveni through his brother, Gen. Salim Saleh, has left a bitter taste in the mouths of thousands of Democrats. To many, this feels like a betrayal of the very foundation on which DP was built.
As the Democratic Party heads into its Delegates Conference, the air is heavy with tension and uncertainty. Just a day before the conference, the official list of delegates, essential for ensuring a transparent and fair election has not been released.
This alarming omission raises serious questions about the integrity of the process and leaves many wondering: is this the democracy that DP has long fought to protect?
In the face of this uncertainty, one leader has emerged with a message of courage and hope. Hon. Richard Sebamala, a principled and committed DP leader, has stepped forward to restore the party’s original mission and values.
“We must remember why our forefathers formed this party,” Sebamala said. “It was to take power—not to surrender it. On the 30th, let us vote to reclaim our future. Let us make DP great again.”
This is more than a call for votes, it is a call for reflection.
Is this the democracy we envisioned?
Is this the leadership we deserve?
Are we willing to let our party be slowly swallowed by the status quo, or will we rise and reclaim its soul?
As we stand at this critical crossroads in the life of our party, let every delegate, every supporter, and every believer in true democracy stay vigilant, ask the hard questions, and take bold, principled action.
The time is now.
The Democratic Party must be reborn, not as an extension of power, but as the people’s movement it was always meant to be.
