The general secretary of the Democratic Party (DP), Gerald Siranda has rejected claims that the party is secretly forming a political alliance with the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) in anticipation of the 2026 general elections.
Recently, the DP has faced criticism from some members who have questioned the purpose of the cooperation agreement established with the NRM in 2022, with some suggesting it could lead to a "marriage" or merger with the ruling party.
However, appearing on NBS Television's the Frontline, Siranda firmly refuted these claims, and insisted that the relationship with the NRM is strictly a cooperation agreement, not an alliance or merger.
"There's no marriage. We have a cooperation agreement with the NRM and we have people in this party that believe in this cooperation agreement," Siranda said on Thursday.
He asserted that the two parties have distinct visions for Uganda as they approach the 2026 elections.
"This cooperation is not a merger, not an alliance that every party will build their structures and along the way we convert on policy decisions, directions on where we want to see Uganda. That's why you see the guideline of DP is not NRM." Siranda explained on the Frontline.
The DP and the NRM signed their cooperation agreement on July 20, 2022, at State House Entebbe, with the signing involving DP President Norbert Mao and President Museveni, who also chairs the NRM.
This agreement facilitated Mao's subsequent appointment as Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
Initially, the agreement was intended to foster constitutionalism, uphold human rights, and ensure a peaceful transition of power.
However, as the elections approach, some DP members, including Deputy President Fred Mbidde, have initiated a formal process to withdraw from the controversial agreement.
In a letter dated April 7, 2025, addressed to DP President and Minister Mao, Mbidde confirmed the initiation of this structured withdrawal process.
“As you are aware, I proposed a significant motion to initiate the process of terminating our cooperation agreement with the National Resistance Movement,” Mbidde wrote.
Last month, Mao strongly defended the agreement, criticizing internal dissenters for spreading misinformation and accusing them of engaging in what he termed "the politics of untouchability."
“In Uganda, there are political cult leaders who believe that one can’t even talk to members of other political parties. That is what we call political untouchability,” Mao said during a recent press briefing.