As the Democratic Party (DP) continue to hold Peace building talks with the masses in the different regions of the country, the part’s Vice President Fred Mukasa Mbidde laughs at the critics of his boss’s act of working with the ruling NRM party after signing an MOU with its chairman President Museveni.
Mbidde called the Mao’s critics ‘idiots’ whom he said must be driven out of politics such that people of sound mind who reason go on with the leadership of the country.
While addressing journalists at the City House based party offices in a weekly press conference, he retaliated what Moa has been saying, that is the need to preach dialogue means as a proper means of changing government so as to avoid bloodshed like it has been happening in the past.
‘’We need a framework of identifying of ‘idiots’ and eliminate them from politics. Idiots are sometimes smarter and can even be elected presidents and in other high ranking leadership positions.’’ Mbidde said.
He said that what Mao is advocating for has been tested elsewhere for instance in South Africa where the late former president Nelson Mandera while in jail dialogued with his tormentors who were against the black rule and promoted apartheid but he won their hearts and they accepted to leave power.
“ What DP is advocating and agitating for has been tested in other African countries like in South Africa and Sudan which led to eventual creating of South Sudan this created piece atleast in such countries and we want also to pursue such trend.’’ Mbidde said.
He further said that what happened last week in Gulu at Kaunda stadium when his boss Norbert Mao was being welcomed home since becoming a minster was overwhelming and its an indication that people in the northern region support DP’s cause. He said they have so far moved to Mbale and Mbarara and they will also go to other regions especially in districts were the party has got members of parliament.
He also said that his party has realized that the current system is where there’s one side with a lot of money being opposed with the other side without money should come to an end and a path to the introduction of power sharing be considered that this will happen when the constitution is a mended to trim the powers of the presidents. He said that the electoral commission chairman in the proposed amendment will no longer be appointed by the president among other things that need to be altered.
Over the weekend, President Museveni wrote to the DP president general , Norbert Mao, where he expressed optimism that the cooperation between the ruling party, NRM and the Opposition will unite Ugandans.
Mao one year ago joined the government after signing a cooperation agreement and this did not go well with a section of high ranking party members complaining that the top party organs were not consulted and this created a faction that denounced that agreement thus terming it as a personal affair between Mao and President Museveni which was not binding on other party members.
Eventually Mao was appointed Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister and he says by virtual of his position, he is now in poll position to see that constitution amendment that will bring changes in electrol processes so as to avoid vote rigging and malpractices as well as buttering opposition candidaes.
By George Bukenya