GULU, Uganda— Democratic Party (DP) President Norbert Mao has sent shockwaves through his party by inviting Gen. Salim Saleh, a top official from the rival National Resistance Movement (NRM), to the upcoming DP Delegates Conference. The unprecedented invitation came after Saleh addressed the DP National Executive Committee (NEC) on Tuesday, urging cooperation between the two political forces.
Saleh, who coordinates the government’s Operation Wealth Creation program, appeared at the meeting in Coopil village, Unyama sub-county. He called on DP leaders to work with the NRM to transition Uganda into a more robust money economy.
“Let us focus on wealth creation and economic issues,” Saleh said. “Some of the political matters are beyond my expertise. You are the masters of politics. I was given a difficult task for the last 10 years to find people who have never handled money.”
He praised DP’s contributions to Uganda’s economic reforms and commended Mao, who also serves as justice minister, for championing ideas rooted in DP’s manifesto. “Sixty percent of what you advocated was denied by UPC earlier, but you had intellectuals who shaped economic adjustment policies,” Saleh noted. “Now, let us see how we can organize better — you in politics, and we implementers want peace.”
Mao described the upcoming DP Delegates Conference in Mbarara on Friday as a pivotal moment to resolve the party’s ongoing internal conflicts. He then formally extended the invitation to Saleh, expressing hope for continued dialogue with the ruling party.
Saleh was visibly surprised by the offer. “I’m very shocked to be given this opportunity. NRM has never allowed me this platform,” he responded. “I don’t know your plans, but I hope I have behaved well. I wish you the best at your conference, and we’ll be in touch with the winners soon.”
Unprecedented Alliance Fuels Internal Strife
This meeting marks an unprecedented first: a top NRM official invited by a DP leader to speak at a party national executive gathering. The invitation deepens the already tense internal dynamics of the DP, which faces accusations that Mao’s faction is “selling off” the party to the NRM.
Mao’s bid for a fourth term as party president at the upcoming conference is already met with stiff opposition. Some members accuse him of betraying DP principles by aligning too closely with the NRM, especially after his faction signed a controversial cooperation agreement with the NRM in 2022, granting Mao a Cabinet post and other DP leaders government positions.
DP NEC member Fred Oyonga defended the meeting, stating it was held openly and in good faith to foster dialogue. “Many people meet Gen. Saleh secretly but pretend otherwise publicly. We want to work with those we disagree with on common ground,” Oyonga said.
However, DP member Bayigga Lulume condemned the meeting as clear evidence of Mao’s faction “selling out” the party. He warned that Mao will face disciplinary action at the Mbarara conference. “Today’s meeting confirms what we’ve long said — Mao’s group has sold out DP. The people will hold him accountable in Mbarara,” Lulume stated.
All eyes will be on the potentially divisive conference to see how Mao’s engagement with Saleh influences DP’s future direction and its uneasy relationship with the ruling NRM government.
