DP leadership resolves Mao will not run in 2026 elections

______________

Democratic Party (DP) president general Norbert Mao says his decision not to contest in Uganda’s 2026 presidential elections was reached collectively by the party’s top leadership.

Mao, who has twice contested for Uganda’s presidency, says he had prepared for nomination, collected the required signatures countrywide, and was ready to run.

“I have been ready to run, because I have run before, so nobody can doubt my capacity,” Mao told journalists on Sunday, September 21, 2025.

Mao, in a social media post on September 21, said: My actual words from day one were: “Elections alone will not bring about a peaceful transition..:” A transition is not just about office bearers. It is also about systemic changes in the governance structure of the State! See some of the ideas below. Let’s debate real issues!

However, he says DP’s national executive committee (NEC) resolved that the party would not field a presidential candidate in the upcoming general elections, scheduled for January 2026. Nominations for presidential candidates are due to take place on September 23 and 24, 2025.

According to Mao, the DP NEC meeting debated the matter thoroughly and concluded that DP should instead focus on strengthening its parliamentary and local government presence.

“Our members argued that resources are finite, and a presidential campaign consumes a lot. These resources would bring better returns if invested in parliamentary and local government races,” Mao says.

He acknowledges that while some members opposed the motion, the majority believed that contesting the presidency under current political conditions would be a symbolic rather than a strategic move.

“The possibility of the Democratic Party, on its own, winning the presidential election is limited for practical considerations concerning Uganda’s political environment,” Mao says.

DP’s Strategic Shift

Founded in 1954, the Democratic Party is Uganda’s oldest political party and has long branded itself as a moderate, unifying force in the country’s politics. Unlike the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), which grew out of a guerrilla struggle, or newer parties formed in reaction to President Yoweri Museveni’s long tenure, DP positions itself as a “real political party” with a legacy that predates the current political order.

Mao stressed that the decision not to field a presidential candidate does not mean retreat or compromise but rather a repositioning of the party. “Uganda will always have a president. For us, this decision allows DP to play a bigger role in shaping the future of Uganda. We are putting the country first,” he said.

He noted that as chair of the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD), DP is in a unique position to engage with both the ruling NRM and the opposition. “DP has always been the cement. Even in opposition politics, when DP comes into the room, focus is restored. We have not been afraid to oppose the powerful or support the weak, provided it serves Uganda’s interests,” Mao said.

Financing political parties

Mao highlighted the challenges political parties face in financing their activities, calling for reforms to ensure fairness. He recalled DP’s role in IPOD’s past partnership with the Netherlands Institute for Multi-Party Democracy, which helped train party leaders, strengthen accountability systems, and build institutional capacity.

“Most political parties lack professional staff and operate more like protest movements than policy-driven organisations,” Mao said. “If we want real democracy, parties need resources and technical support to function as institutions, not just election vehicles.”

He proposed that IPOD should evolve into an independent body with its own secretariat and technical team to strengthen political parties across the board.

While some critics may view DP’s decision as a climbdown, Mao maintained that it was a pragmatic choice made in the party’s and the country’s long-term interest. “This is not about me alone. It’s about Uganda beyond me and beyond President Museveni. DP’s role has always been to moderate, to think about the future, and to put Uganda first,” Mao said.

The Democratic Party will now direct its efforts towards parliamentary and local government races, with Mao himself committing to campaign for DP candidates across the country.