Democratic Party (DP) President General Norbert Mao has officially written to National Resistance Movement (NRM) Chairman, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, and NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong requesting that his bid for Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda be tabled for discussion at the upcoming NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC) and Parliamentary Caucus meetings.
Mao’s request comes against the backdrop of the cooperation agreement signed between the NRM and DP on July 20, 2022, at State House Entebbe. The landmark agreement was signed by NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong and DP Secretary General Gerald Siranda.
The 42-clause agreement established a framework for political cooperation, constitutionalism, power-sharing, and the promotion of human rights between the two parties.
The pact later paved the way for Mao’s appointment as Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs in President Museveni’s government, while Gerald Siranda was subsequently elected to represent Uganda in the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).
Political analysts view Mao’s latest move as a significant test of the strength and future direction of the NRM-DP cooperation agreement, especially as succession battles and parliamentary leadership contests intensify ahead of Uganda’s next political cycle.
This is not the first time the DP and NRM have worked together politically. Following the 1986 NRA liberation struggle, several DP members joined the broad-based government formed by President Museveni.
Among the prominent DP figures was the late Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere, who served in several senior cabinet positions, including Minister of Internal Affairs (1986–1988), Minister of Foreign Affairs (1988–1994), and Minister of Public Service (1994–1995).
He also concurrently served as Deputy Prime Minister in the broad-based administration.