Democratic Party (Uganda)

Uganda

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The Democratic Party (DP) is a moderate conservative political party in Uganda currently led by Norbert Mao. DP was led by Paul Ssemogerere for 25 years until his retirement in November 2005. John Ssebaana Kizito replaced Ssemogerere [1], and led the party until February 2010, when Norbert Mao was elected party president.^[1]

In the general election of 23 February 2006, the party won 8 out of 289 elected seats. In the presidential election of the same date Kizito won 1.6 % of the vote.

Background

The Democratic Party (DP) was formed out of the religious and economic demographics that began to model politics in Buganda prior to Uganda's independence. Buganda is Uganda's largest ethnic region and has influenced the country's politics since the country was drawn up by the British colonial power. Buganda like most parts of Africa prior to independence had been visited by three key religious forces - the Roman Catholics, the Church of England (Protestants) and Islam. All three religions battled to extend their influence in Buganda and Uganda as a whole. In Buganda all three built powerful indigenous alliances and tried to influence the Buganda King - the Kabaka. By the 1950s the Protestants had achieved most influence over the Kabaka.

Buganda

Another important factor influencing Buganda politics at the time was what the role of the Kabaka should be in a united independent Uganda. A significant majority in Buganda wanted autonomy with the Kabaka as the symbol of Buganda self-determination. However most other people in Uganda wanted a unitary modern state unhindered by traditional royalty. This aspiration was shared by some of the Buganda elite - particularly those who belonged to the Catholic Church. They formed the basis of what was to become the Democratic Party.

To the Kabaka, the Democratic Party members were seen as disloyal, and in response the Kabaka formed an alternative more popular party in Buganda called Kabaka Yekka ("The King Only"). Realising they had little chance of winning support in their heartland - Buganda, the Democratic Party under Benedicto Kiwanuka began to campaign for the support of other southern Bantu-speaking tribes in the South of Uganda. The Democratic Party effectively became Uganda's first national political party.

Independence

A third political force emerged from the Nilotic/Luo speaking North of Uganda. The Uganda National Congress later to become the Uganda People's Congress(UPC) was led by Milton Obote. Like the Democratic Party, the UPC campaigned for a unitary modern state. In fact there was very little difference in policy between the DP and UPC.

The first election in Uganda prior to Independence saw the Democratic Party as the largest party, however the UPC formed an alliance of convenience with the Kabaka Yekka and Milton Obote became Prime Minister, promising to preserve the Kabaka's status in Buganda. That alliance did not last and in 1966, Obote ordered the military against the Kabaka who fled into exile. The Kabaka Yekka party was banned and Benedicto Kiwanuka was imprisoned.

New Political Forces

When Obote was overthrown in 1971 by Idi Amin, Benedicto Kiwanuka accepted a ministerial post in the new government. He was eventually murdered by Amin's agents. All political parties were banned in Uganda during Idi Amin's rule.

The Democratic Party emerged again after Idi Amin was overthrown in 1979. The absence of the Kabaka Yekka party now made the Democratic Party the main political force in Buganda and Southern Uganda, while the UPC consolidated its support in the North. This regional polarisation of Ugandan politics had made the Democratic Party a convenient vehicle for Baganda to express their political aspirations which had moved significantly towards autonomy after the apparent economic and political failure of the Ugandan state. This was further enhanced by the brutality of the new government whose army was dominated by Northerners. To many Baganda, DP was the first stage to achieving the return of the Kabaka and the "independence" of Buganda.

The leadership of the Democratic Party did not share this view, but went along with it. The new leader Paul Ssemogerere was a political novice but used the Buganda aspiration effectively and provided a significant challenge to the UPC led once again by Milton Obote in the 1980 elections. These elections are widely believed to have been rigged by the Military Junta that ruled Uganda after Idi Amin in favour of Milton Obote and the UPC.

A third political party the Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM) led by Yoweri Museveni rejected the result and went to the bush to start a guerrilla war. There was pressure on the Democratic Party to reject the result, but the leadership decided to take their seats in parliament much to the disappointment of their supporters. However one of Democratic Party's younger leaders Andrew Kayiira did take up arms to fight the new government, joining an organisation called Uganda Freedom Movement.

When Yoweri Museveni came to power, he was able to outflank any support the Democratic Party retained in Buganda by allowing the Kabaka's son to return and be crowned as a ceremonial king. The Democratic Party performed so badly in the elections in 2006 it is doubtful whether the party will ever regain its popularity.

Factions

Since the 2006 elections, the party has struggled to find its place in Ugandan politics. In-fighting and factionalism have driven away many of its traditional supporters.

References

1. ^ Charles Ariko (February 22, 2010). "Political parties react to Mao DP election". New Vision. http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/12/710803. 

External links

• Archive of defunct DP website - www.dpuganda.org (March 2004)
• New DP website - www.dp-uganda.com (October 2006)