KAMPALA UGANDA: 13 April 2026– The Democratic Party (DP) is facing a fresh wave of internal turbulence following a scathing letter from Edith Chuchu Byanyima, to Party President Hon. Norbert Mao, demanding immediate clarity on his cozying relationship with the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and the apparent erosion of the party’s internal democracy.
Byanyima’s missive a copy of which this publication received, paints a picture of a party in administrative decay, where structured consultation has been replaced by “individual political positioning” and public press briefings.
Byanyima, writing as a “concerned member,” expressed grave concerns that the DP’s core organs—including District Chairpersons, Parliamentary representatives, and Party Elders—have been totally sidelined. She argues that the party’s organizational foundations have weakened, leading to widespread disengagement among the rank and file.
”The party’s organisational foundations appear to have weakened and this is reflected in declining coordination, limited engagement, and increasing disengagement among members,” The letter reads.
Central to her critique is the contested legitimacy of the National Council, which she notes remains a subject of ongoing dispute among the membership. Edith Byanyima is daughter to longest serving DP National Chairman Mzee Boniface Byanyima (RIP) and sister to UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima.
The Kyankwanzi Question:
The most stinging portion of the letter addresses Mao’s recent activities within the NRM’s inner circles. Byanyima specifically questioned Mao’s participation in the ongoing NRM caucus meetings at Kyankwanzi, suggesting such moves threaten the DP’s independent identity.
She further challenged the “Speakership pursuit,” questioning whether the ambition to head the legislature is a collective party goal or a solo venture by Mao.
“There is also concern regarding your participation in political engagements associated with the ruling party, in particular the NRM caucus meetings at Kyankwanzi. Such involvement raises important questions about the scope of the cooperation arrangement, whether party structures were consulted, and how this aligns with the Democratic Party’s independent identity.” Edith Byanyima stated.
“Additionally, there is growing public perception that the pursuit of the Speakership position is being advanced without clear internal consultation or formal party endorsement. This raises concerns about whether this reflects a collective party position or individual political positioning, and what institutional benefit it brings to the party.”
The five-point ultimatum:
Byanyima concluded her letter with five “firm” demands aimed at restoring accountability within the party;
*Immediate clarification on the status and implications of the DP-NRM cooperation agreement.
*An explanation for Mao’s participation in NRM’s internal engagements in Kyenkwanzi.
*A confirmation of whether the speakership bid has formal party endorsement.
*The restoration of structured consultation across all party organs. And;
*Prioritizing the internal legal and leadership disputes before further external engagements.
The letter has been copied to all DP District Chairpersons, Members of Parliament, and the Council of Elders, signaling an attempt to mobilize the party’s grassroots and leadership against the current trajectory.
As of press time, Hon. Norbert Mao has not issued a formal rebuttal. However, the letter adds significant pressure on his leadership at a time when the party is struggling to maintain its brand as a distinct opposition force while operating within a government cooperation framework.
Byanyima insists that the party’s survival depends on a return to “transparency, consultation, and institutional consensus,” warns that without these, the DP risks losing its principled standing in Uganda’s political landscape.
