Democratic Party has been resilient amid setbacks for 72 years

DP president Norbert Mao addresses DP delegates

On October 6, 2026, Uganda’s Democratic Party (DP) marked 72 years since its establishment.

Its journey is a story of political courage, electoral triumphs, internal divisions, changing alliances and remarkable survival. For Uganda’s political parties, DP offers an enduring lesson that, establishing a party is one thing but sustaining it through generations of political upheaval is another.

Founded on October 6, 1954, DP emerged during Uganda’s struggle for self-government. Its founding president, Joseph Kasolo, and later leader Benedict Kiwanuka helped shape its early political identity.

In the 1961 elections, DP won 43 seats in the Legislative Council against the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), which won 37. Kiwanuka became Chief Minister, leading Uganda’s first internal self-government.

DP had demonstrated that an organised political party could move from advocacy to governing. The party’s fortunes changed after independence. Kiwanuka’s political journey ended tragically when he was arrested under Idi Amin’s regime in 1972 and he was never seen alive again.

Yet DP endured. Under Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere, it re-emerged as a formidable political force. In the disputed 1980 elections, DP received approximately 47.1 per cent of the parliamentary vote and won 50 of the 126 seats.

Although UPC secured more parliamentary seats, DP’s performance demonstrated its considerable national appeal and established its place at the centre of Uganda’s political struggle. DP’s contribution extends beyond electoral results.

Since the time of Ben Kiwanuka, the party has produced and nurtured leaders who have shaped Uganda’s political life, including Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere, John Ssebaana Kizito, and, by his own account, President Museveni, who has indicated that he was once a member of the DP.

The party’s legacy continues through a later generation of leaders, including DP President General Norbert Mao, Hon. Mathias Mpuuga, Hon. Muwanga Kivumbi, Hon. Betty Nambooze, Hon. Lulume Bayiga, and Hon. Ssebamala, among others.

Although some of these leaders have since moved to other political parties, DP’s wider networks and traditions have continued to influence Uganda’s political landscape. This is why DP has often been described as a nursery for political leadership.

Its significance lies not only in the leaders who remain within its ranks, but also in the political experience, leadership skills, and commitment to public service it has helped nurture.

DP has faced leadership disputes, defections and declining parliamentary representation, winning between six and 15 seats in the elections from 2006 to 2026. Despite these setbacks, it has remained active in national politics, with its MPs contributing to debates on governance, accountability and democratic reform.

Its significance extends beyond electoral numbers to its enduring political legacy and continued participation in Uganda’s multiparty democracy. Throughout its history, the party has remained a voice in Uganda’s struggle for the rule of law, electoral reforms and a peaceful transition of power.

Its parliamentary representation has provided a platform for raising questions about governance and democratic accountability, even when its numbers have been modest.

This persistence matters, political relevance is not measured by seats alone, but also by the consistency with which a party engages national questions and defends democratic principles.

One of DP’s enduring traditions has been its emphasis on dialogue and reconciliation. The party has experienced fierce confrontation with successive governments, yet its leaders have also recognised that political opponents sometimes need to cooperate.

Reconciliation should never mean abandoning accountability or surrendering the right to disagree. Rather, it recognises that national progress may require engagement even between those who differ fundamentally on important issues.

This brings us to the controversy surrounding President General Norbert Mao’s appointment as Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs following the DP–NRM cooperation agreement signed on July 20, 2022.

Some critics view the arrangement as a compromise of DP’s opposition identity, while others see it as an opportunity to pursue constitutional reform, dialogue and institutional strengthening from within government.

In March 2026, Uganda’s Constitutional Court dismissed a petition challenging the agreement and ministerial appointment. The political debate over the arrangement, however, remains relevant.

Mao is not the first DP president to serve in a Museveni government; Kawanga Ssemogerere and John Ssebaana Kizito also held ministerial positions. Their experience shows that government participation does not necessarily mean abandoning party principles.

Mao’s appointment should, therefore, be judged by his contribution to reforms and public welfare, while DP maintains its independence, challenges government where necessary and upholds accountability.

Other Ugandan political parties can learn from DP’s 72-year journey about the importance of building strong institutions, managing internal disputes fairly, nurturing new leaders and preserving a distinct political identity.

Despite losing prominent leaders, defections and internal divisions, DP has endured beyond individual personalities. Its experience shows that longevity requires institutional resilience, unity, adaptability and commitment to core principles.

Ultimately, parties must continually earn public trust through credible leadership, relevant ideas, accountability and sustained engagement with citizens. At 72, DP’s journey reflects both institutional resilience and the need for renewal.

Its future depends on unity, stronger institutions and the ability to remain politically relevant. Its experience reminds all parties that lasting survival requires more than electoral victories. It demands enduring institutions, constructive management of internal disagreements and a willingness to cooperate in the national interest without abandoning core principles.

[email protected]

The writer is a DP

The post Democratic Party has been resilient amid setbacks for 72 years appeared first on The Observer Media Ltd.