DP members call for party president Mao to respect court order

A faction within the Democratic Party (DP) has called for party President-General Nobert Mao to step down following a court ruling that declared his leadership position invalid.

This comes after a court order issued by Justice Phillip Odoki deemed the party’s declaration of Mao and other members in leadership roles as illegal, stating that it violated the party's constitution.

Despite the court ruling, Mao, who also serves as the Minister of Justice in President Museveni's government, dismissed the order, claiming that it is not legally binding.

His stance drew criticism from within his party, with several members urging him to respect the judiciary and step aside to allow a proper leadership transition.

"We cannot have a justice minister who disregards court orders," said Dr Lulume Bayiga, a National Executive Committee (NEC) member of the Democratic Party.

"If Mao truly respects the law, he must step down and allow the party to conduct free and fair elections to restore order," he added

Bayiga, along with fellow NEC member Richard Lumu, warned that if Mao continues to dismiss the court order, they will seek further action through the Uganda Law Society (ULS) and other legal avenues to hold him accountable.

"We cannot allow a leadership that operates above the law," Lumu stated.

"This is not just about the party; it's about the integrity of our legal system. As a justice minister, Mao should be leading by example, not disregarding court decisions," he added

The call for Mao's resignation has been further amplified by Benedicto Kiwanuka, who originally filed the petition that led to the court ruling.

Kiwanuka argued that the only way to restore order within the Democratic Party is for Mao to step aside and allow the interim council to conduct new leadership elections.

Despite the growing pressure, Mao has yet to publicly respond to the demands for his resignation.