Uganda Opposition: Sebamala’s Response to DP Lockout
- Richard Sebamala's disqualification from the democratic Party (DP) presidential race at the party's National Delegates Conference (NDC) in Mbarara has stirred meaningful controversy.
- Sebamala, the Bukoto Central MP who unseated a former vice president in 2021, was deemed ineligible due to a constitutional rule regarding party membership or National Executive Committee...
- In response, Sebamala has publicly denounced the process, mobilizing grassroots support and teasing a "Plan B." He criticized the "sham" election on X,highlighting alleged military presence and Mao's...
Sebamala Disqualification Ignites Democratic Party Strife
Richard Sebamala’s disqualification from the democratic Party (DP) presidential race at the party’s National Delegates Conference (NDC) in Mbarara has stirred meaningful controversy. While Norbert Mao secured his fourth term as DP President General, sebamala’s exclusion has exposed deep divisions within the party as Uganda approaches the 2026 elections.
Sebamala, the Bukoto Central MP who unseated a former vice president in 2021, was deemed ineligible due to a constitutional rule regarding party membership or National Executive Committee (NEC) service. Sebamala, however, claims eligibility, alleging that Mao manipulated the process to eliminate competition. his team further contends that the election was expedited to exclude him, citing altered delegate lists and ballot box interference.
In response, Sebamala has publicly denounced the process, mobilizing grassroots support and teasing a “Plan B.” He criticized the “sham” election on X,highlighting alleged military presence and Mao’s ties to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).These actions position Sebamala as a reformist aiming to revitalize the DP and challenge its current leadership.
Sebamala’s “Plan B,” which includes a shadow congress and supporter hotlines, suggests a strategy to remain influential outside official party structures. The #SebamalaForDP hashtag and conference chants indicate strong support, especially in Buganda, where the DP has lost ground to the National Unity Platform (NUP). By emphasizing Mao’s alleged alignment with the NRM, Sebamala taps into widespread discontent with the DP’s direction.
If this is what we must go through to create change… We are ready to go through it and we shall win.
What’s next
Looking ahead, Sebamala could lead a DP breakaway faction, pursue legal action, join the NUP, or run as an independent in 2026. His next moves will considerably impact both his political future and the broader opposition landscape in Uganda.