DP at Heart, a pressure group within the Democratic Party (DP), has warned party president Norbert Mao against reported plans to attend a retreat organized by the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), warning that such a move could undermine the party’s independence.
In a statement released on Monday, DP at Heart said it had formally notified President Museveni the grave constitutional and political concern.
“The NRM caucus is an internal partisan organ of the ruling party, not a national platform for opposition participation,” the pressure group said.
“Any attempt by the DP leader to enter this forum is irregular, unacceptable, and a direct affront to the independence of our party.”
DP at Heart emphasized that Mao lacks the mandate of party members, delegates, or stakeholders to engage in the internal structures of another political party, describing any such engagement as “personal and unilateral.”
“Hon. Norbert Mao has no mandate from the members, delegates, or stakeholders of the Democratic Party to participate in the internal structures of the NRM,” the group noted. “If he attends the NRM caucus, he is not representing the Democratic Party but acting on his own behalf.”
The group rejected any notion of political alignment between the DP and the NRM, reaffirming the party’s independence.
“The Democratic Party is not available for absorption, alignment, or informal integration into the NRM machinery,” the statement said.
DP at Heart also called for transparency in inter-party engagements, warning against informal arrangements that could erode public trust.
“Any engagement between political parties must occur through transparent and formal channels, not personal arrangements that undermine public confidence,” it stated.
“The Democratic Party belongs to its members, not to individuals or external interests,” the group said.
