
“Today is the turning point. No more running circles because we have a direction for the party” – Norbert Mao (20.02.2010).
“Mbale/Kampala — Democratic Party delegates have elected Norbert Mao as the party president, replacing Mr John Ssebaana Kizito. In the results declared by the returning officer, Mr. Polly Mukiibi in the wee hours of Sunday morning [about 4.41am] Mr. Mao polled 708 votes to edge his only rival in the DP race Al-Hajj Ssebagala who garnered 321 votes after spending crazily during internal campaigns” (Daily Monitor – ‘Uganda: Mao is DP President’, 21.02.2010).
“UPDATE: Kennedy Mutenyo, the presiding officer for the Democratic Party (DP), has declared Norbert Mao the winner of the party’s presidential election, marking his fourth consecutive term. #NTVNews The election, held at the Asamar Hotel in Mbarara, saw Mao secure 969 votes, while Alitia Elia and Dr. Michael Lulume Bahiga received 52 and 339 votes, respectively” (NTV Uganda, 02.06.2025).
A fourth term is upon us and the Democratic Party of Uganda doesn’t look stronger, better or even surrounded by the talent, which brings change or any sort of momentum ahead of the 2026 elections.
The era of Mao has really shown his character and who he is. Now that he is in an agreement with the National Resistance Movement (NRM). He really is emulating the NRM and continue his legacy to tarnish the old party. That’s what Mao is up too, and the ones hopeful of the party has left the fold. Only Mbidde has stood by him, and he was shady from the onset. So, they are of the same kind, I suppose.
There is little reform or spark left in the DP. He has turned a future powerhouse of the 2010s into a relic of the past. They are becoming maligned, small and fragmented. The DP party of old would have various characters and leaders who seemed promising. Who would contest and try to change the party. Those days are long gone, as everyone is just to bow down to Mao and whatever whims he has. That’s why he even ensured the process was shoddy and blocked another candidate from running against him. This is because the incumbent knows that he isn’t without critics or without people who wants to see his downfall.
The DP Party is now running in circles. It is without a proper direction, except for feeding Mao and being a meal-ticket for his inner circle. The party fits the paradigm of being an organization that can be utilized for self-enrichment and getting fancy titles. That’s what Mao has been able to build but not create a party that endangers or even is capable of challenging the regime. No, he rather being a comrade and being a “Good DP” for His Excellency.
Now that he has another term on his hand. We can rest assure that he will use it to be a friend and an ally of the President. That’s because that’s the hands that feeds him. He has already revealed that he was connected and working for the Gen. Salim Selah Foundation since around 2007. So, this man is willing and have been a man who can trade away his integrity long time ago. He was just able to fool people in the past, but in the present we can all see it clearly.
Norbert Mao is one of them. A turncoat and a meal-ticket politician. A man whose willing trade principles for cash. That’s who he is and his selling his party for a fortune too. Even if the DP wasn’t “his” party, he surely sold it and destroyed over the years. Peace.

















