KAMPALA, Uganda
Longtime political allies within Uganda’s Democratic Party (DP), Fred Mukasa Mbidde and party president Norbert Mao, appear increasingly divided as internal disagreements and political positioning expose fresh fault lines within one of the country’s oldest political parties.
The controversy erupted after Mbidde reposted and captioned “The Asseveration with a letter informing Mao that he will be contesting for the party president in the next DP delegates conference” on a social media post which painted a picture of a fractured alliance between the two veteran politicians, who have worked together for more than a decade at the helm of DP politics.
The growing tensions come after months of public differences between the two senior party figures over the future of the party, its cooperation agreement with National Resistance Movement (NRM), and strategic direction ahead of the next phase of DP’s political journey.
For years, Mbidde and Mao were widely viewed as close political allies, working together through multiple election cycles and during controversial moments in the party’s recent history. Their alliance shaped major decisions within DP, including support for the cooperation agreement signed between DP and NRM in 2022, which later saw Mao appointed Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
Signs of friction have become more visible in recent months.
Mbidde publicly questioned Mao’s bid for Speaker of Parliament earlier this year, arguing that political realities and existing arrangements within the ruling establishment made the contest difficult to win. His remarks marked one of the clearest public departures from his longtime ally’s position.
The disagreements have also extended to the future of the DP-NRM cooperation agreement, with Mbidde previously indicating that sections of the party wanted the arrangement reviewed or terminated.
Political commentators and party supporters have increasingly speculated about whether personal ambitions, internal competition, and differing political calculations are fueling the fallout.
However, claims circulating on social media suggesting that the disagreements stem from failed ministerial expectations, political betrayal, or personal grievances remain unverified and have not been publicly confirmed by either Mao or Mbidde.
Neither politician had immediately issued a direct statement addressing claims about the state of their relationship at the time of publication.
The emerging divisions matter because both men have played central roles in shaping DP’s direction over the last decade.
Mao remains one of the party’s most recognizable faces nationally, while Mbidde has long been influential within internal party structures and regional politics.
Political analysts say disagreements among senior figures could influence how DP positions itself in the coming years, particularly as debates continue over alliances, opposition politics, and the party’s identity.
Attention is now likely to turn to whether the differences evolve into a formal contest for influence within DP or whether party leaders move to rebuild consensus.
