Troubled Democratic Party (DP) has distanced itself from the “lies” perpetuated by its vice president Mukasa Mbidde that he reached a consensus with his boss Norbert Mao who allowed him to support Robert Kyagulanyi’s quest for Presidency.
The party publicist Okoler Opio Lo Amanu issued a statement bashing Mbidde as a liar and derailed, because it would be suicidal for a member to support any candidate when DP has a candidate.
Mr Opio says Mbidde’s actions come with a huge price he is likely to pay after going against the party constitution.
“The President of Democratic Party cannot endorse support for another party’s candidate when he himself is a presidential flagbearer in the general elections in the same manner Hon. Mbidde wouldn’t endorse support for Hon. Mpuuga by agreeing with some members of his team to support his rival.
That said, we strongly believe that no party member can in good conscience support a candidate from another party for any position when DP has a candidate,” the statement reads.
Members have to take responsibility for their decisions save where there’s collective responsibility based on a formal decision by a party organ.
DP further warned that should members shouldn’t make decisions which are construed as being unreasonable then members should be prepared to shoulder the burden of guilt without tagging the President General of the Party as is the case at present.
“Also important to note is that, we shall not be distracted from pursuing the goals for which DP was established in 1954. As the President General often says, “DP was established for a reason, not a season”.
The Democratic Party has candidates in various positions and it is the duty of all members of the party to back the party candidates. Members who back candidates from other parties undermine the unity and solidarity of the party.
Lastly, while the political pressures that compel conflicted party members to get derailed into supporting candidates from other parties are understandable, they are unacceptable and contrary to the provisions of the party constitution,” Mr Opio concludes.
