Democratic Party (DP) president Norbert Mao has opened up on reports that he asked National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine to forgive him for refusing to allow him lead the DP Bloc in the 2021 election.
In 2019, Bobi Wine and Mao had attempted to work out a coalition called DP Bloc.
The coalition was supposed to bring together DP factions, breakaway parties and the then People Power pressure group.
But Mao reportedly dragged his feet on allowing Bobi Wine to lead the coalition.
A number of Buganda subregion DP politicians would later join Bobi Wine and his acquire NUP.
So, when Mao recently hinted on talks with NUP for cooperation in the struggle against the Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni administration, some media outlets reported that Mao had sought Bobi Wine’s forgiveness and was eyeing a coalition between NUP and DP.
Mao says NBS TV distorted the facts in his statement on working with Bobi Wine.
“When it comes to distorting information you can count on NBS Television not to disappoint!” said Mao.
“After our Democratic Party Uganda meeting with the Women’s Situation Room Uganda I was asked by the media about opposition cooperation in the 11th parliament. I announced that Democratic Party Uganda – DP believes in cooperation and that I’ve received a letter from Bobi Wine calling for a meeting.”
Mao’s disappointment with NBS TV was that its affiliated news site Nile Post had carried a story titled ‘DP’s Mao seeks coalition with NUP’s Bobi Wine.’
Mao also blasted publishers of another news site for claiming he had asked Bobi Wine to forgive him.
“Another shitty blog site masquerading as an online news outlet has even gone overboard by making outrageous claims,” he wrote.
“I don’t have time to respond to toilet paper journalism.”
NORBERT MAO ON DP MEETING WITH BOBI WINE’S NUP OFFICIALS
However I can only say this: With friends like these, Bobi Wine doesn’t need enemies!
It is now clear that there are sleeper cells of enemies of opposition unity within the camp claiming to be supporters of NUP and Bobi Wine!
These are the groups that spread the harmful propaganda that sabotaged our efforts to build the Grand Peoples Coalition that the Reunion proposed.
Democratic Party will always do what is in the national Interest taking into account its best interests!
We however understand the anger and frustration of those who have failed to use our party.
We remain on guard but we are not afraid to play in the goal area of our opponents too.
It is risky but that is where progress based on mutual interests can be made.
The top leadership of DP received the letter with appreciation when I announced it at the weekly Management Committee meeting and resolved that we should indeed hold the meeting with the NUP team.
I have accordingly communicated to the NUP leader that we welcome the idea of the meeting and we will not let egoism stand in the way of our efforts to serve the people of Uganda better and rescue the state from capture.
Our guiding principle is best captured by the statement by John F. Kennedy that “Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.” Indeed DP shall never negotiate out of fear but DP shall never fear to negotiate!
